Work of the Task Force on Water and Climate

1. Work of the Task Force on Water and Climate Jos G. Timmerman Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Water Management

2. Work to be undertaken • Prepare a Guidance on Water and Climate Adaptation • Targeted to support cooperation and decision making in transboundary basins • Aim: adoption by the Meeting of the Parties at its fifth session (Oct. 2009)

3. Adaptation strategies in the Guidance Water abundance Water shortage Adaptation strategies Water quality Health

4. Work Programme • Questionnaire • Workshop • Guidance

5. Aims of the questionnaire • Degree of awareness on climate change impacts on water resources in Southern and Eastern Europe • Vulnerability to climate change in that region • Compile potential adaptation measures and strategies as well as information on implementation experiences

6. Questionnaire builds on: Survey by German Environment Ministry in cooperation with European Commission and European Environment Agency

7. Contents of questionnaire • Assessment of future impacts • Expected changes in climate • Sensitivity of countries • Adaptation measures • Planned and implemented • Adaptation initiatives • Measures – process – evaluation • Climate information • Need for information • Need for further research

8. Timeframe questionnaire • Sent out January 2008 • Returned by April 2008 • Results by July 2008

9. Workshop: goals • Identify adaptive strategies towards effects of climate change on water management • Identify information needs in support of these strategies • Discuss the draft Guidance

10. Workshop participants • Government officials dealing with health, water, and climate policies • Scientists from meteorological, hydrological and public health disciplines dealing with prediction and forecasting

11. Thank you