1. Update on Water activities
EIONET CCIVA
Tuesday 22/5/2012
Brussels

2. Update on Water activities
ClimWatAdapt & on-going studies
Blueprint
Expert Group Climate Change & Water

3. ClimWatAdapt and on-going DG ENV assessments.

4. Vulnerability of Water Resources & Adaptation
Driving forces
Pressures
State
Potential
Impacts
Exposure
Climate scenarios
Natural variability
Precipitation
Snow cover
Evaporation
Sea level rise
Etc.
Water availability
Soil moisture
River flow
Water temperature
Salt intrusion
Etc.
costs/benefits (health, assets, production, land, jobs, biodiversity, ecosystem services, etc.) from water stress, flooding, etc.
Sensitivity
Production
Consumption
Demography
Etc.
Land-use
Processes
Flood defenses
Storage capacity
Etc.
Withdrawals
Location ecosystems, population, activity, assets
Etc
Adaptation

5. Water and Adaptation Modelling ClimWatAdapt project (2010-2011)

6. ClimWatAdapt Scenarios
Socio-economic and land use: SCENES.
Main drivers (socio-economic, electricity production, technological changes, …)
Climate: ENSEMBLES
Long-term annual average bias-corrected temperature and precipitation data (baseline, 2025s and 2050s), 11 GCM-RCM combinations, SRES A1B scenario
Change in annual precipitation between 2050s and baseline

7. Adaptation measures inventory

8. Water withdrawals
Future?
Year 2005

9. Water availability
2050s ( )
Baseline ( )

10. FP6 SCENES Scenario «Economy First» 2050
FP6 SCENES Scenario «Sustainability Eventually» 2050
Example of ClimWatAdapt results: Summer Water Exploitation Index (excl cooling water)
The main message from this bold exploratory scenario exercise is that despite strong improvements in water efficiency in all sectors, water stress would remain a problem in numerous EU catchments, including in central and western Europe. This pleads for a more integrated analysis of the potential of increasing water availability, water retention and water savings taking fully into account the uncertainties linked to economic developments in various sectors and climate change.
Low stress (WEI < 20%)
Medium stress (20% < WEI < 40%
High stress (WEI > 40%)
Source: DG Environment, ClimWatAdapt database, 2011

11. ClimWatAdapt policy recommendations:
Knowledge Gap
Additional research: focus uncertainty and adaptive capacity. Integration into CLIMATE-ADAPT and WISE.
Economic analysis under WFD: forecasts about future water use and related investments)
Embed EU and national forecast systems in CLIMATE-ADAPT.
• Define and agree on EU wide set of vulnerability indicators to measure the success of implemented adaptation measures.
Mainstreaming
Ecosystem-based approach / transfer into all EU policies targeting land use changes (CAP, Energy, Transport)
Climate proofing measures in 2nd RBMPs
Funding priority to “green” or “soft” measures and multi-objectives measures
Start assessment of long-term radical measures
transboundary water management adaptation strategies.
Support actions at EU level to foster the uptake and implementation of technical adaptation measures.

12. Knowledge Integration:
ClimWatAdapt results integrated in the Clearinghouse

13. Current work
Modelling of the cost-effectiveness of measures in the context of the Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters
Natural water retention measures
Water efficiency measures
Preparatory Action Climate of the Carpathian Region
Litterature review on the potential climate change effects on drinking water resources across the EU and the identification of priorities among different types of drinking water supplies

14. Natural Water Retention Measures
Slow down or reduce the flow of water downstream, leading to a more natural flow regime within a catchment, alleviate the effect of droughts, and to prevent floods, desertification and salination by:
improving soil’s water storage capacity
limiting soil erosion
increasing groundwater recharge
conserving water in natural systems
decreasing flow velocity, controlling runoff
reducing flood peaks

15. Outcome
Report on litterature review on costs, benefits and policy implication of measures
To be circulated for comments
To be integrated into WISE catalogue of measures
Quantitative modelling at EU level (JRC)
First results to be presented at Green Week
Included into Blueprint Scenarios

16. JRC modelling Approach
JRC modelling: Provide a first quantitative pan-European overview of the effects of ‘green’ measures on discharge
Encouraging Member States to further explore the use NWRM, foster communication between stakeholders
JRC modelling Approach
Building scenarios of
land use
agricultural practice
water retention, etc.
Multi -models
Land use model
Climate models
Hydrological model, etc.
Assessment of effectiveness of measures at EU level (flood risk prevention, low flows)

17. Water scarcity and droughts
GAP analysis on water scarcity & droughts
Identification of the extent of water scarcity & droughts in Europe and assessment of existing and potential selected measures for tackling water scarcity & droughts.
Water efficiency in Buildings
Leakage reduction in water distribution networks
5-8 pilot studies in water-scarce parts of Europe to analyse and quantify factors of relevance for leakages at a river basin level. Identification of best practices for reducing water-losses in the EU or other countries. Recommendations on policy options for water efficiency in distribution systems.
Activities to halt desertification in Europe
3-5 pilot projects on innovative technologies, techniques or practices in order to contribute to the exchanges of good practice and innovation at the local level for halting desertification in Europe.
Water pricing in agriculture
Case studies on water pricing policies for the agricultural sector in selected river basins. Recommendation on best practices.
Water saving in agriculture
Clarification on the current situation of agricultural water use in Europe, and compilation of conclusions from a range of studies on possibilities for water saving in agriculture. 17

18. Preparatory action — Climate of the Carpathian basin
Objective approved by the European Parliament:
2010 Budget allocation:
Analysis of the vulnerability of water and ecosystems of the region to climate change impacts and other man-made pressures
Identifying potential adaptation measures, focusing on adaptive water management and ecosystem-based approaches..
Benefits
National or Regional adaptation strategies in the Carpathian Region
Danube Climate Adaptation Strategy
Contribution to the forthcoming EU Information System (Clearinghouse) on Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation

19. Preparatory Action Climate of Carpathian Region (1/2)
CARPIVIA project
To gather information on vulnerability of environmental resources to climate change in the Carpathian region, and on that basis identify and assess potential adaptation measures, with a focus on ecosystem based approaches
To identify knowledge gaps to be filled in by additional field research or case studies (executed by a parallel project contract)
To contribute to on-going national or regional adaptation strategies or related policy processes, and the EU Knowledge Base on Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation (a.o. EU Adaptation Clearinghouse)
runs until 2013, complemented by the CarpathCC project started in 2012

20. Preparatory Action Climate of Carpathian Region (2/2)
CarpathCC project: 6 in-depth studies for in-depth assessments of vulnerability of environmental resources and ecosystem-based adaptation measures:
In-depth study on the key climate change threats and impacts on water resources
In-depth study on the impacts of climate change threats on ecosystems
In-depth study on the impact of climate change on ecosystem based production systems
In-depth study on adaptation measures
Supporting stakeholder interaction
Integral vulnerability assessments in focal areas

21. A Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters
EG CC & Water
21/5/2012

22. What is the Blueprint?
The Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources will present the policy response to the challenges presented in the State of Water Report,
long-term aim: to ensure sufficient availability of good quality water for sustainable and equitable water use.
Closely linked to EU 2020 Strategy and Resource Efficiency Roadmap.

23. Why a Blueprint?
Improving the implementation of current EU water policy
Fostering the integration of water and other policies
When necessary, seeking the completion of the current policy framework

24. Synthesis of policy recommendations building on on-going assessments
Impact Assessment
« Fitness Check»
EU water
policy
instruments
Outlook of sustainability and vulnerability of EU water resources
Policy
Options
Nov 2012
Blueprint To
Safeguard
EU Waters
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management
Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Report on 2009
River Basin
Management Plans
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts
Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Review
Water Scarcity
& Droughts Strategy
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation
Climate Change
Vulnerability
& Adaptation

25. From Objectives to Policy Options
Foster integration of water into sectoral policies
Achievement
Good Ecological Status
Increase the use of economic instruments
Adressing
Water Stress
Achieve a more efficient water governance
Foster integration of water into sectoral policies, by ensuring that impact of socio-economic activities and regulations on the state of water resources is fully taken on board
Increase the use of economic instruments for a better allocation of resources and internalisation of external costs.
Achieve a more efficient water governance and effective working relationships between institutions, and fully integrate water quality, quantity and hydromorphology issues in management actions.
Improve knowledge and tools available to water managers[N1]  and managers of all sectors dependent on water, enabling effective decision making and reducing administrative burden.
 [N1]Knowledge and tools also for framers, industries, tourist sector etc. are needed
Resilience to
Extreme Events
Improve knowledge and tools

26. Unlocking Measures Focus on measures serving multiple benefits
Unlocking barriers :
Technical / Innovation
Knowledge (costs, benefits and impacts of measures)
Economic incentives
Financial resources
Regulations

27. Pressures
Drivers
State
Responses
Impacts

28. Identifying specific problems to be solved through the Blueprint
Level 3
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2

29. Next Steps 15/3 – 7/6: 12-weeks public consultation on Policy Options
Discussion options at 3rd EU Water Conference on May
Discussion at Informal ENV Council 7-8 July
18 July : Impact Assessment Board
November: Publication Blueprint

30. Expert Group Climate Change & Water

31. Expert Group Climate Change & Water
Main objective: Discuss how Member States and others Institutions are going about implementing the WFD-CIS Guidance document No. 24 “RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING CLIMATE”
Share experiences and best practice
Look at emerging issues (to be taken into account for the 2nd and 3rd RBMP).

32. Preliminary assessment River Basin Management Plans (RBMP)
Most of the MS included significant information on climate change into the RBMP, however in a different level of detail
Climate change issues have not influenced much the RBMP actions yet
There is an indication in some plans that climate check of measures has already been done or preparations for it are started for the next RBMP cycles