1. FIRST MEETING OF THE UNECE TASK FORCE ON WATER AND CLIMATE Bonn, 23-24 November 2007
Luis Veiga da Cunha
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Informal Meeting of EU Water Directors
Lisbon November 2007

2. UNECE TASK FORCE ON WATER AND CLIMATE
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Water Courses and International Lakes (Water Convention), 1992
Protocol on Water and Health,1999
Protocol on Civil Liability for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
on Transboundary Waters, 2003
Working Groups
Task Forces

3. TASK FORCE ON WATER AND CLIMATE
Main concerns
Address impacts of climate change on water management and on floods and droughts occurrences, particularly in a transboundary context
Support cooperation and decision making in transboundary river basins
Identify practical ways to cope with transboundary impacts of climate change through adaptation
Asses water vulnerability to climate change
Propose methodologies for climate proofing in river basins
Identify proactive and reactive measures for coping with climate change impacts on water

4. TASK FORCE ON WATER AND CLIMATE
Actions
Consider health impacts in cooperation with the UNECE Protocol on Water and Health activities
Cooperate with other UN Agencies and Programs with interest in climate change, such as WMO, UNFCCC, UNCCD, UNDP, UNEP and UNESCO
Prepare a “Guidance on Water and Climate Adaptation”
Prepare a Questionnaire on Water and Climate Change
Organize workshops related to adaptation to climate change impacts on water

5. QUESTIONNAIRE ON WATER AND CLIMATE
Assessment of the degree of awareness on climate change impacts on water resources, particularly in SEE and EECCA regions
Asses vulnerability to climate change, particularly in the same regions
Compile potential adaptation measures and strategies as well as information on implementation experiences
Questionnaires currently under discussion to be sent out in January, returned in March and published in July 2008

6. FIRST WORKSHOP ON ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER
Identify adaptation strategies to cope with climate change impacts on water management
Identify information and research needs in order to support these strategies
A two days workshop is planned for July 2008 in the Netherlands
Participants in the workshop: water managers and scientists of the relevant disciplines