1. The Development of Water Policy and Climate Change
Water Directors Meeting Athens, GR June 2003
Climate change is going to have a major impact on water resources in Europe
Likely to require changes in the way that we manage and protect these resources.
Knowledge Base
Detailed predictions concerning the possible consequences of climate change?
Have they been developed on the basis of common scenarios?
Do we know enough about the possible impacts of climate change?
Relationship Between Climate Change and Water Policy in the EU
is it foreseen that there will changes to the direction of water policy
foresee what possible changes may be necessary at EU level
Water Directors and Climate Change
Synthesis of scientific knowledge on Climate Change and the Water Dimension

4. IES-JRC will coordinate the preparation of a report on
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Objective: To prepare a scientific synthesis on Climate Change and
the European Water Dimension
Coordinator: IES-JRC
Timelines:
Invite comments on the strategy and draft outline at and after the
Informal Water Directors Meeting in Rome November 2003
Preparation of working draft of the scientific synthesis for consideration
by the Water Directors in Dublin June 2004
Final Synthesis Document - September 2004
Approx. Length: ~ pages

5. IES-JRC will co-ordinate the preparation of a report on
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Information Sources:
IPCC
ACACIA
European Research
Global Research
Contributors: MS Experts on various sub-topics; IES-JRC Experts
DG-RTD
Anticipate hosting 2-3 specialty workshops consisting of European
experts on key sub-topic areas (e.g., climate change impacts
on aquatic ecosystems)
Final Synthesis Document - Approx. Length: ~ pages

6. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Executive Summary
What we know; what we do not know; recommendations
Introduction
Climate drivers and components sensitive to climate change
Part A. Climate Change at the Global Scale (~ 10 pages)
Part B. Climate Change at the European Scale (~10 pages)
Part C. Climate Change and Aquatic Ecosystems (~45 pages)
Part D. Case Studies on Climate Change (~40 pages)

7. Part A. Climate Change at the Global Scale
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Part A. Climate Change at the Global Scale
Global Scene
Earth’s surface temperature record (lower atmosphere?)
last 140 years; last 1000 years
Precipitation
Snow/ice cover
Sea level rise
Extremes
Mountain regions?
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Global radiative forcing – general discussion
Record of CO2, CH4 and NO over time
Other important radiative species – S04, aerosol, halocarbons, others?
Modelling and simulation of Global System – future projections
Temperature
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Events (Table 4, P. 72, IPCC)
Others: El Nino, SO, SST, NAO
Thermohaline circulation (relevance to Europe, N. Atlantic)

8. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Part B. Climate Change at the European Scale
Regional Climate Projections – Europe
Northern Europe
Temperature
Precipitation
Wind
Mediterranean Sea
Mountain Regions
Impacts in European Coastal Areas
Sea level rise
Coastal erosion
Future of Med. Coastal lagoons
Floods at European Regional Scale

9. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EUROPEAN WATER DIMENSION
Part C. Climate Change and Aquatic Ecosystems (~45 pages)
Lakes
Rivers
Wetlands
Coastal Systems
Water-Borne Pathogens & Disease(s)
Changes in Biogeochemical cycles (C,N,P,others)
Inland
Coastal/Marine
Part D. Case Studies on Climate Change (~25 pages)
Case Study Lake(s)
Case Study River(s)
Case Study River Basins
Case Study Coastal Lagoons
Case Study – Implementation of WFD and Marine Strategy
and Climate Change
Climate Change and Water-Borne Disease
Contaminant Cycling and Climate Change (Global and Regional)
Hg; POPs, PBTs