22 nd - 27 th September 2019 Malaga, Spain

1. Launch of the new Groundwater working group for implementation of the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) Marco PETITTA (Earth Science Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy), ABSAMETOV, Malis (Institute for Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Kazakhstan); COETZEE, Henk (Council for Geoscience, South Africa); GARAYEVA, Narmina (Geneva Business School, Switzerland); HINSBY, Klaus (GEUS, Denmark); HOOGENDOORN Bob (Deltares, Netherland); NETSKVI, Oleksii (State Commission on MineralResources, Ukraine); PARKS, Kevin (Alberta Geological Survey, Canada); REICHLING, Joerg (BGR, Germany); RUDKO, Georgii (State Commission on MineralResources, Ukraine); SZOCS, Teodora (Mining and Geological Survey, Hungary); TUDVACHEV, Alexey (St. Peterburg State University, Russian Federation); VINOGRAD, Natalia (St. Peterburg State University, Russian Federation) 22nd - 27thSeptember 2019 Malaga, Spain

2. UNFC Classification What is it? The United Nations Framework Classification for Resources provides a tool for sustainable development of energy and mineral resource endowments. UNFC applies to energy resources including oil and gas;  renewable energy; nuclear fuel resources; mineral resources; geological storage of CO2; and the anthropogenic resources such as secondary resources. Since 2019 “groundwater” has been included as Natural renewable resource in the classification (Working Group Groundwater established) The EGRM (Expert Group in Resource Management) is the technical body for application of UNFC now taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals (to provide a new classification named UNRMS)

3. UNFC Classification How it works UNFC is a global, principles-based and user-friendly system for classifying, managing and reporting mineral, petroleum, renewable energy, anthropogenicresources and injection projects. Natural resource quantities are classified on the basis of three fundamental criteria that reflect technical, socio-economic (& by now envorinmental) and planning dimensions. UNFC, in its core principles, encompasses the holistic management of all socio-economical, technological and uncertainty aspects of energy and mineral projects. The project maturity and resource progression model of UNFC can de-risk projects from costly failures and thus protect the investments. UNFC now fully integrates social and environmental considerations and technology readiness required to bring clean and affordable energy resource projects into the market. 

4. UNFC Classification How it works Natural Resources quantities are classified on the basis of the three fundamental criteria of economic and social viability (E), field project status and feasibility (F), and geological knowledge (G), using a numerical and language independent codingscheme. Combinations of these criteria create a three-dimensional system. The E axis designates the degree of favorability of social, environmental and economic conditions in establishing the commercial viability of the project or potential project. E1: socially, environmentally and economically viable; E2: viable in foreseeable future; E3: not viable or not determined The F axis designates the maturity of studies and commitments necessary to implement the project or potential project. These projects range from early conceptual studies (F4) through to a fully developed project (F1). F2: subject to further evaluation; F3: limited technical data The G axis designates the general level of (geological) knowledge/ confidence in the estimates;: G1: high level of confidence; G2: moderate level of confidence; G3: low level of confidence; G4 indirect estimate Sub-categories are also defined along the axes

5. More information http://unece.org/energy/se/reserves.html Email: reserves.energy@un.org

6. Is Groundwater relevant for UNFC? Energy/Food/Water Nexus • The food-energy-water nexus, with some of the linksbetweeneachfeatureidentified and explained. Source: IWA, 2018. Sustainable Development: The Water-Energy-FoodNexus.

7. Relevance of Groundwater Existing EU classification on GW Research & Knowledge Making Groundwater visible Societal Challenges Policy & innovation Climate & environ. Energy Food Health Mapping monitoring modelling Water supply Math & phys Geology Assessment and Management Operational Actions Geography Chemistry Biology Research Topics Database (>2200 records) available at http://kindraproject.eu/eigr/

8. Keywords relationships in scientific literature in Europe Quantitative issues Qualitative issues Human activity interaction

9. Relevance of Groundwater Existing applications at national/regional scale RUSSIA: independent classification takes the degree of geological and hydrogeological studies, divided into categories. Consideration of the geological complexity (aquifers). Differences between explored and estimated resources/reserves. Some criteria fit with UNFC, others not. UKRAINE: applies the UNFC classification since years in the field of natural resource management. UNFC is applied to 5 type of the water: drinkable water, mineral water, water used for heat, technical and industrial water. Particularly reference is related to drinking water and hydrogeological sustainability. ALBERTA (CANADA): The Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) has used an aquifer yield continuum approach to quantify groundwater yield to a depth of 150 m below ground surface in southern Alberta. The aquifer yield continuum approach classifies yield along a spectrum, bound by non-use and maximum mining, rather than determining a single aquifer yield value. The concept depends on quantifying hydrogeological parameters such as recharge, discharge, and aquifer volume.

10. Is Groundwater relevant for UNFC & UNRMS? SDG 6 – clean water and sanitation The UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires a modern management of earth resources based on sustainability also aimed at climate change mitigation. In this framework, where the existing UNFC is moving towards an extended classification named UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management Sustainability), a growing interest in groundwater resources has been raised.

11. Groundwater & Sustainability Global Change Resilience & Environmental Issues Groundwater is fundamental not only for humans, but for environmental and ecological issues too: we deal with social and environmental sustainability Consequently, groundwater resources must be considered in a framework of resource management sustainability (potential best fitting with UNRMS)

12. Peculiarity of groundwater for UNFC Potential interest for the further UNRMS • Peculiarities of groundwater resources respect with other earth resources require a preliminary validation phase to verify applicability of existing UNFC on groundwater resources: • the coexistence of renewable (due to annual recharge of aquifers) and not-renewable resources (long-term groundwater stocked in deep aquifers); • In addition to quantitative evaluation, qualitative status of groundwater has a strong influence on its different uses • the emerging approach of UNFC based on sustainability, which implies not only focus on exploitation for human uses, but also on the environmental and ecological needs, seems to fit perfectly with the comprehensive concept of management and protection of groundwater resources. • groundwater is a natural resource interested by transboundary flows, which implies application of modern policies and governance to be efficiently managed • “commercial” value of groundwater is not applicable for all available resources and this concept requires a wider approach to be considered/approved

13. Members of the WG Updated May 3rd, 2019 • Marco Petitta, Italy, EFG/Sapienza Univ. Rome • NarminaGarayeva, Switzerland, Geneva Business School • Klaus Hinsby, Denmark, GEUS/EuroGeoSurvey • OleksiiNetskvi, Ukraine, State Commission on Min. Res. • GeorgiiRudko, Ukraine, State Commission on Min. Res. • Teodora Szocs, Hungary, IAH/ Mining & Geol. Survey • Joerg Reichling, Germany, BGR • Alexey Tudvachev, Russia Fed., St. Peterburg State Univ. • Natalia Vinograd, Russian Fed., St. Peterburg State Univ. • MalisAbsametov, Kazakhstan, Inst. Hydrogeol. & Geoecol. • Kevin Parks, Canada, Alberta Geological Survey • Henk Coetzee, South Africa, Council for Geoscience • Bob Hoogendoorn, Netherland, Deltares/EFG • Hassan Almarzouki, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Geological Survey • Peter Van Der Keur, Denmark, GEUS • Brian Smerdon, Canada, Alberta Geological Survey • Federico Games, Switzerland, Consultant • ÁgnesRotárnéSzalkai, Hungary, Mining and Geological Survey

14. Possible Actions and Synergies With other international initiatives/associations • IAH, International Association of Hydrogeologists • EuroGeoSurveys and GEOERA project • European Federation of Geologists • UNESCO – IHP • Others suggestions?

15. Next Steps NOT in priority order • Enlarge the WG membership: everyone is welcome! • Complete the check and the bridging with existing classifications • Find case studies for application of UNFC (or were it has been applied) • Insert officially groundwater in the UNECE resource list (action documents must be submitted to EGRM) • Test the consistency of UNFC for groundwater (limits and novelties due to GW peculiarities) • During transition from UNFC to UNRMS, groundwater can represent a good test, because it has the characteristics to have a best fitting with an “environmental based” new classification more than with a “management” one