Adaptation to climate change in river basin management planning in the EU policy context and research trends

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1 WFD Lille 2010 Adaptation to climate change in river basin management planning in the EU policy context and research trends Balázs Horvath, Philippe Quevauviller Adaptation to climate change in river basin management planning in the EU the policy context Balázs Horváth European Commission DG Environment, Water Unit European Commission Key documents The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) The Flood Risk Management Directive (2007/60/EC) Commission Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts (COM(2007) 414) Commission White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change (COM(2009) 147) Adapting to Climate Change: the Challenge for European Agriculture and Rural Areas SEC(2009)417 Human, Animal and Plant Health Impacts of Climate Change SEC(2009)416 Climate Change and Water, Coasts and Marine Issues SEC(2009) 386 River basin management in a changing climate (technical report ) a Guidance Document No 24 under the Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD How the guidance fits into adaptation policy EU ADAPTATION WHITE PAPER PILLAR I PILLAR II Strengthen the Knowledge/ Evidence Base Mainstream climate Adaptation into key policy areas PILLAR III Employ a combination of policy instruments PILLAR IV Advance work internationally on Adaptation Key areas: Water, Coastal & Marine, Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Agriculture, Health, Transport, Energy etc. Increased resilience to adapt to the effects of climate change is needed Policy measures to mainstream climate change adaptation and water sector: WFD, Floods D, Commission Communication on WS & D 1 of the 32 WP Actions for EU and Member States: Develop guidelines and a set of tools (guidance and exchange of best practices) by the end of 2009 to ensure that the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) are climate-proofed The role of adaptation in the 2nd and 3rd WFD cycle Water Director s Policy Paper on climate change and water (June 2008) In the subsequent cycles, the Programme of Measures needs to be made climate resilient as a default and firmly based on scientific evidence, notwithstanding the fact that knowledge and new data are constantly evolving For these RBMPs, incorporating climate change could include: - Improving the information basis, - Iterative climate check of measures, - Considering broader water management issues related to climate change (e.g. related to land use, or water demand/supply management), - Improving of monitoring to detect climate change impacts, - Exploring potential needs for adjustment of reference conditions/type changes of water bodies Aim and scope of the guidance on Climate Change and Water Produced by the Climate Change and Water Steering Group under Water Framework Directive Common Implementation Strategy Based on agreed Policy Paper of Water Directors (2008) Target group: river basin managers Practical guidance on how to deal with climate change in EU water legislation Focus on coming two River Basin Management Plans (not 2100) Providing first tools, but further work needed after 2009 Both water quality and quantity, both extreme events and gradual climate change Endorsement of the guidance by Water Directors in November 2009

2 Working method Draft chapters co-ordinated by Member States (FR, UK, ES), European Environmental Agency and Working Group Floods Other working group (e.g. Ecostat and Water Scarcity and Droughts) contributed together with other stakeholders Significant number of experts involved from all around Europe Table of content guidance Foreword Executive summary n Introduction n Water and Climate Change - Policy framework n Climate modelling, projections, scenarios, potential impacts and uncertainty n Getting started: how to build adaptive capacity for management under climate change n Water Framework Directive and adaptation n Flood risk management and adaptation n Drought management and water scarcity and adaptation Annexes Structure guidance WFD logic stays the same with climate change The Guidance Document describes 62 guiding principles for adaptation, and relates each to steps in RBMP. The principles are intentionally broad to be applicable across all Member States regardless of regional variations in potential impacts. Where feasible, entry points have been identified within existing processes and frameworks. Examples are provided to show how the principles might be applied in practice. Pressure analysis CC is an additional pressure to water bodies Water status monitoring and assessment closely monitor CC impacts and, based on robust long-term monitoring, assess whether type changes or changes in reference conditions may occur (not likely until 2027) Objective setting - Criteria for applying exemptions (e.g. disproportionality/technical infeasibility) are not affected Consideration of measures in 2015 Management Plans in case of CC pressures In all cases: check of Programme of Measures is climate resilient WFD logic stays the same with climate change Key messages for water resources management The 2 nd and 3 rd cycle of RBMP, Member States should clearly demonstrate: how climate change projections have informed assessments of WFD pressures and impacts, how monitoring programmes are aligned to detect climate change impacts, and how choices of measures are as far as possible robust to future projected climate conditions. Keep water resources clean Save water and increase water efficiency Maintain and boost natural storage capacity for water Protect against floods and erosion Land use, water and biodiversity joined up management

3 Flood Protection Water Scarcity and Droughts Integrated Coastal Zone Management Recommendation Water Pricing Use Floods Directive for addressing CC impacts Preliminary flood risk assessment Include climate change in flood scenarios and flood risk maps Include long-term climate change impacts in flood protection measures Favour flood measures that provide room to the river and pay attention to WFD Article 4.7 when defining measures Use EU regional funding where appropriate Allocation of funding Water supply infrastructure Water Efficiency and Water Savings Data and Knowledge Collection Follow-up Guidance document is considered as a first step Future CIS activity: Feedback from river basin managers and other users on experiences with applying the 2009 guidance document in practice Further discuss approaches for enhancing climate resilience and carrying out a sensitivity check of WFD PoM Further discuss how to deal with uncertainty of climate change impacts in river basin management Specific activities in other CIS groups (e.g. groundwater) Thank you for your attention! More information: Adaptation to climate change in river basin management planning in the EU The research context Why research at European level? Pooling and leveraging resources Resources are pooled to achieve critical mass Leverage effect on private investments Fostering human capacity and excellence in S&T Stimulate training, mobility and career development of researchers Improve S&T capabilities Stimulate competition in research Philippe QUEVAUVILLER DG Research European Commission Better integration of European R&D Create scientific base for pan-european policy challenges Encourage coordination of national policies Efficient dissemination of research results

4 Monday, 26th April, 3.00 pm Structure of 7th Framework Programme FP 7 has been organised in Specific Programmes which constitute its major building blocks : Cooperation Ideas People Capacities Nuclear Research Climate change research Climate change research may broadly defined along the three following objectives: Knowledge on the climate system and its processes, including the socioeconomic drivers of anthropogenic interference with the climate system Knowledge on the impacts of climate change, including climate-related natural risks and climate change health and socio-economic impacts The core of FP7 is the Cooperation programme. It fosters collaborative research across Europe and other partner countries through projects by transnational consortia of industry and academia. Research will be carried out in ten key thematic areas. Knowledge on mitigation and adaptation options, including cost estimates Other research areas concerning climate change are related to the development of low-carbon society (involving a wider spectrum of activities, most of them related to technological research) Global drivers of change - Interactions A growing awareness rainfall GHGs The IPCC released a Technical Report on climate change and water (June 2008) starting by: Observational records and climate projections provide abundance evidence that freshwater resources are vulnerable toward climate change, with wide-ranging consequences for human societies and ecosystems in Europe and worldwide Land cover Climate Water Resources Within the European Union, the Water Directors agreed about key policy messages on built upon the EC White Paper on Adapting to Climate Change (2009). food fuel GHGs Population, Increasing consumption From Richard Harding, Centre of Ecology & Hydrology (WATCH) Different types of CC impacts Dealing with uncertainties We know there will be changes in rainfall regimes (it is arguable there already have) but the detail is unclear There is good agreement that: Globally rainfall will increase Nearly everywhere temperatures will increase Extremes will increase Generally dry areas get drier and wet wetter Sea level will rise There is not good agreement: Rainfall trends in many regions of the world The magnitude of the changes are uncertain Different hydrological models give different responses to rainfall drivers Source: EEA

5 Understanding impacts and vulnerability + Scientific challenges Adaptation to climate change in the following sectors: Water resources Flood risks Drought risks Water quality management/ pollution control DESIGN OF DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS, INTEGRATION REVIEW Need to establish links with science users IMPLEMENTATION Source: EEA On-going research A non exhaustive list, some presented at this conference Understanding climate change impacts - Research on CC impacts on water cycle (WATCH), on water quality and quantity in vulnerable mountain environments (ACQWA), on ecosystems (GENESIS) etc. - Assessment of CC impacts in the Mediterranean, including on water resources (CIRCE), water & security (CLIMB / WASSERMed / CLICO) On-going research (1) CC impacts on the Mediterranean CIRCE: Climate change and impact research: the Mediterranean Environment First assessment of climate change impacts in the Mediterranean and their consequences to society and the economy Identification of adaptation and mitigation strategies Support to policies through the RACCM Report Regional Assessment of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Specific research on CC impacts on floods and droughts - Assessment or research needs and policy options in the area of drought (XEROCHORE), early warning and forecasting systems to predict climate-related drought vulnerability and risks in Africa ( AFRICA Call ), CC impacts on intermittent rivers (MIRAGE) etc. - Research on flash floods (IMPRINTS), flood resilience in urban areas (CORFU) 64 partners from 17 countries, end March 2011 On-going research (2) Research needs on drought XEROCHORE: An exercise to assess research needs and policy choices in the areas of drought On-going research (3) CC impacts on intermittent rivers MIRAGE: Mediterranean Intermittent River Management State-of-the-art review and identification of research gaps in the natural system, impact assessment, policy-making and integrated water resource management Assessment of impacts of droughts and guidance on appropriate responses for stakeholders Development of extensive network of experts at EU level and beyond (more than 80 organisations from various sectors) Characterisation of temporary streams for the Mediterranean region and setting of specific reference conditions for the related ecosystems Testing of relevant measures and recommendations for integrative catchment management for floods and drought periods Development of scenario analyses examining water scarcity impacts due to climate change and land-use change as well as threats to ecosystems 11 partners from 9 countries and EC JRC, budget of 1.5 M, end May partners from Europe International partner: Morocco

6 Climate change research A large portfolio of FP6 and FP7 projects What s next? 134 projects representing an overall budget of 543 million from the European Community European Union research activities exhibit a strong international dimension structuring the European Research Area(ERA) and going well beyond European borders. ronment/pdf/cop-15.pdf Assessment, early warning, preparedness, prevention, adaptation to CC impacts on water only achievable through an integrated approach, requiring strong scientific knowledge based - multi-disciplinary and sectoral cooperation. A lot of uncertainties remain! Links among the scientific and policy communities have to be strengthened, this is essential to ensure proper synergies and take-up of scientific results by users. Concluding remarks - Orientations Specific research needs have to be identified in relation to better understanding of CC impacts on water and evaluation of responses, in particular regarding extreme events (floods and droughts). The following orientations are currently being considered: 2 C from pre-industrial level Increased drought risks in Europe Building a flexible network capacity in natural hazards Multi-risk approach regarding climate-driven natural disasters More Information European Research Portal: General information on the Seventh EU Research Framework Programmes: Specific information on research programmes, projects and FP7 Call documents: General information requests: Research for the environment: ment/index_en.cfm