1. IWRM as a Tool for Adaptation to Climate Change
Basic Principles and Elements of Adaptation Strategies
IWRM as a Tool for Adaptation to Climate Change

2. Goal and objectives of the session
At the end of this session, participants will:
Be able to identify the main principles and processes that have been proposed for the process of preparing adaptation strategies
Know major sources of substantive guidance for adaptation planning
Be able to identify the linkages between adaptation plans and mitigation plans, as well as possible conflicts between the two.

3. What is adaptation? Adaptation is a process by which
individuals, communities and countries
seek to cope with the consequences of
climate change, including climate variability.
It should lead to harmonization with country’s more
pressing development priorities such as
poverty alleviation, food security
and disaster management.

4. Variations
Proactive adaptation – ‘no regrets’ – strategic planning, incremental implementation, and cost-effective.
Autonomous adaptation – ad hoc, cumulative, tactical adjustments to demands, needs, and demographic patterns and technological advances and ecological constraints. Progress as data, events and uncertainties are clarified.
Rational decision-making in the area of hard and soft solutions and their combination has to be based on a proper, permanent planning process.

5. Adaptation chain Prevent Improve resilience Prepare Respond
Extreme events
Recover

6. Basic principles
Action based on assessment and evaluation  application of precautionary principle to be considered
Adaptation to short-term climate variability and extreme events is a basis for reducing vulnerability to longer-term climate change
Adaptation policy and measures are assessed in a socio-economic development context
Adaptation policy to take social, economic and environmental concerns into consideration and ensure that the needs of the present generation are met without compromising the needs of future generations.

7. Basic principles -2-
Uncertainty characterization required along the entire process
Concept may not be well understood at political and local levels
Stakeholders must be part of the impact assessment process to own the results
Communication strategy essential.

8. Basic principles -3-
Strong interdepartmental (interministerial) and intersectoral cooperation
Stakeholder involvement  identification as part of the assessment process
Acceptable levels of risk
No-regret and low-regret options as a priority
Short-, mid- and long-term measures to be clearly brought in sequence.

9. Basic principles -4-
Estimating costs of a measure is a prerequisite for ranking a measure and including it in the budget or in a wider adaptation programme. Cost of inaction?
Avoiding maladaptation through strong assessment process, stakeholder involvement and considering the externalities of various adaptations.

10. Development of an adaptation strategy

11. Process
Assessing current vulnerability
Assessing future climate risks
Formulating an adaptation strategy
Monitoring, evaluation and review
Engaging stakeholders in the adaptation process
Assessing and enhancing adaptive capacity.

12. In WRM, the process involves
Assessment of the status of all water resources
Specification of objectives for individual water resources
Prediction of trends
Associated assessment of risk for projects already taken
Specification of measures for those projects at risk of not meeting the objectives
Monitoring of the impacts of measures for further assessments and decision-making.

13. Opportunities for adaptation
Planning new investments, or for capacity expansion
Operation and regulation of existing systems for optimal use and accommodating new purposes (e.g. ecology, climate change, vulnerability)
Maintenance and major rehabilitation of existing systems (e.g. dam safety)
Modifications in processes and demands (water conservation, pricing, regulation)
Introduce new efficient technologies (desalination, biotechnology, irrigation, recycling, solar, etc.).

14. Steps for an adaptation project
Scope project and define objective
Establish a project team
Review and synthesise existing information
Design project for adaptation.

15. Steps Scope project and define objective Establish a project team
Establish the stakeholder process
Prioritise the key system
Review the policy process
Define project objectives
Develop a communication plan
Establish a project team
Review and sysnthesise existing information
Design project for adaptation

16. Setting objectives of an adaptation project
Increase the robustness of infrastructure designs
Increase the flexibility and resilience of the natural systems
Enhance the adaptive capacity
Reverse trends that increase vulnerability
Improve people’s awareness and preparedness for future climate change
Integrate adaptation in development planning.

17. Steps Scope project and define objective Establish a project team
Review existing information
Review and synthesize existing information
Describe adaptation policies and measures in place
Develop indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity.
Design project for adaptation.

18. Steps Scope project and define objective Establish a project team
Review and sysnthesise existing information
Design project for adaptation
Select approach and methods
Describe process for assessment of future vulnerability
Develop monitoring and adaptation plan
Develop terms of reference for project implementation.

19. Challenges to making adaptations
Insufficient monitoring and observation systems
Lack of basic information
Settlements in vulnerable areas
Appropriate political, technological and institutional framework
Lack of capacity
Low income.

20. Adaptive capacity is dependent on:
Economic resources
Human resources
Information and skills
Technology
Institutions
Infrastructure
Regional and international cooperation.

21. Conclusions
Adaptation to present climate variability and extreme events forms the basis for reducing vulnerability to future climate change.
The adaptation strategy has to be developed within the development context of the system.
Adaptation happens at various levels within the society – national, regional, local, community and individual.
The adaptation process is as important as the adaptation strategy.

22. Think about it
What is the role of sectoral adaptation planning? What is its potential?
Can you give examples of cross-sectoral adaptation planning?

23. Thank you

24. Additional Material

25. The situation to be avoided...

26. “Water, water everywhere …
"… but not a drop to drink."
Adapted from A.M. Noorian
Adapted from A.M. Noorian

27. Information, information everywhere ...
… but none to help me think
Current pressures
Acceptable level of
uncertainty for action
Future impacts
Timing of changes
Immediate expected results
Adapted from A.M. Noorian

28. National Adaptation Programme of Action
Objective: Serve as a simplified and direct channel of communication for information relating to the urgent and immediate adaptation needs of the LDCs
Needs addressed through projects and activities that may include capacity building and policy reform
Available for some 38 LDCs  to be taken into account when formulating IWRM plans!

29. Nairobi Work Programme (2005–2010)
Improve understanding and assessment of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
Make informed decisions on practical adaptation actions and measures to respond to climate change on a sound scientific, technical and socio-economic basis, taking into account current and future climate change and variability.

30. Areas of work under the Nairobi Work Programme
Methods and tools
Data and observations
Climate modelling, scenarios and downscaling
Climate related risks and extreme events
Socio-economic information
Adaptation planning and practices
Research
Technologies for adaptation
Economic diversification.

31. Building resilience

32. Energy and water development are interrelated
Carbon energy source?
Source: Jonch-Clausen,2007

33. Water developments with serious energy footprints
Desalination of seawater for water supply requiring huge amounts of energy
Large-scale pumping for irrigation
Large-scale pumping for inter-basin transfers
Competing water uses leading to reduced inflow to hydropower dams, as e.g. upstream irrigation, resulting in increased thermal energy production.
Source: Jonch-Clausen,2007

34. Energy developments with serious water footprints
Major hydropower dams in dry tropical climates, resulting in large water losses and changes in downstream flow regimes
Production of first generation biofuels in tropical developing countries suffering water scarcity already, hampering achievement of the MDG targets on poverty and hunger
Shale oil development requiring huge amounts of water
Energy crisis in Germany in 2003 due to inadequate availability of cooling water for nuclear power plants.
Source: Jonch-Clausen,2007

35. Sectoral information Economic information
Information inputs
Climate Information
Historical data for trends
Climate predictions
Climate scenarios
Sectoral information
Technological options
Supply–demand situations
Physical information
Geophysical information
Social development scenarios
Economic information