1. SSG on Climate Change and Water SCG meeting May Marieke van Nood, Unit D.2, DG Environment, European Commission

2. Progress White Paper Adaptation Discussion document Follow up
Outline
Progress White Paper Adaptation
Discussion document
Follow up
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

3. Preparations White Paper on Adaptation

4. Stakeholder Consultation Dec 2007 Internal Consultation
POLICY MAKING PROCESS
Green Paper
Adopted
June 2007
White Paper
To be adopted
Autumn 2008
Stakeholder Consultation
Dec 2007
Internal Consultation
Development of a Framework for Adaptation

5. OUTCOME OF STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION
General support for messages in Green Paper
Areas most vulnerable identified: water, health and biodiversity, tourism and agriculture
There is a regional variation with regard to vulnerable areas, impacts and policy responses; a “one size fits all” approach will not work
A flexible EU Framework for action should be applied
Urgent response is required
Adaptation and mitigation must be considered together
More focus on health and urban areas is needed
More research and knowledge gathering is required
Greater public debate and awareness raising needed

6. Possible components of White Paper
The problem- Main areas of vulnerability and uncertainties
The benefits of early action at EU level
Developing a culture of reducing risk and vulnerability
( for each of following areas different options could be considered)
Awareness raising
Land use
Infrastructure
Funding mechanisms
Capacity building, research
Principles for action

7. Principles for action
Synergies- Priority to measures good for mitigation and adaptation.
No regret- Priority to measures beneficial irrespectively of uncertainties
Precautionary principle- consider worst-case scenario measures, even if uncertainties are high (cases where the costs or the magnitude of the impacts in such scenarios would be unacceptable)
Solidarity- between MS, regions, social groups
Flexibility and subsidiarity - Adapt° policy should be dynamic and flexible
Knowledge based- Adapt° policy should be based on scientific evidence
Proportionality- measures must be cost-effective and proportionate
Sustainability- Measures must be in line with sustainable development

8. More information
All information on:
Friday 16 May - Stakeholder event - Brussels:
-presentations outcomes stakeholder consultation, progress White Paper, Impact Assessment
-discussion on priority adaptation options at EU level

9. Discussion Document on Climate Change and Water for WD meeting in Slovenia

10. To prepare debate requested by WD for Slovenia
Discussion Document
To prepare debate requested by WD for Slovenia
Version 1 prepared by co-leads CIS activity Climate Change and Water
Based on existing documents (outcomes Bonn workshop, Green Paper, conclusions Berlin Conference, …)
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

11. Integration with other policies WFD and objective setting
Discussion Document
General remarks
EU water legislation
Integration with other policies
WFD and objective setting
Adaptation in first RBMP
Adaptation in 2nd and 3rd cycle
Science – policy link
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

12. Comments received from 8 countries and 6 stakeholders/NGOs in SSG
Discussion Document
Comments received from 8 countries and 6 stakeholders/NGOs in SSG
Most comments taken into account in version 2.0
Some comments not considered relevant and separately listed in table
No open points identified
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

13. Take note of the key messages in the document
Request to SCG
Take note of the key messages in the document
Discuss and agree that the document is to be forwarded to the WD for their meeting in June 2008
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

14. Follow-up
Outcomes debate WD will be made publicly available and will be input for guidance to be prepared in 2009
SSG will continue collecting best practices and approaches for a climate check of the first Programmes of Measures. Questionnaire was sent out 4 April to SSG members. Deadline for response is 1 July.
Next SSG meeting is Friday 5 September 2008.
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.