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Downloads
Conference
concept and scientific background on climate change impacts on water
resources in Europe (231 KB)
Discussion
papers for working sessions:
Water Resources Management
(103 KB)
Water Supply and Sanitation
(97 KB)
Agriculture (107 KB)
Electricity (113 KB)
Inland Waterway Transport
(104 KB)
Tourism (105 KB)
Questionnaire
survey among European countries:
Questionnaire
Report (191 KB)
Research project - preliminary final report:
In the context of a research project commissioned by the German Federal
Environment Agency, Ecologic and the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact
Research evaluated scientific evidence related to the effects of climate
change on water resources and the water cycle in Europe, and on this basis
identified challenges to water management and water-related sectors and
outlined strategies for adaptation. The preliminary final report is available
for download. The final version will be published by the Environment Agency shortly.
Preliminary Final Report March 08
Background
The
global mean surface temperature has been continually increasing
over the past decades, and most scientists today agree that we are
witnessing a change in the global climate, largely caused by anthropogenic
emissions of greenhouse gases. Due to the complexity of the earth
system and the manifold processes influencing and influenced by
the climate, multiple impacts along different causal chains are
to be expected as a result of warming.
Impacts on water resources are among the main concerns in Europe.
Several recent studies highlight the challenges that result from
changes in water availability and water quality, from sea level
rise, from shifts in precipitation patterns and in the snow regime
and from an increase in the frequency or intensity of floods and
droughts. The European Environment Agency (EEA) concluded in its
2004 report "Impacts
of Europe´s Changing Climate, an Indicator-Based Assessment"
that "…water availability will change over Europe in
the coming decades".
The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) released
a report on "Climate
Change and the European Water Dimension" in 2005, evaluating
the available scientific knowledge on the possible impacts of climate
change on water resources and water quality in European inland,
coastal and marine waters.
The extent to which changes in water availability, water quality
or the risk of extreme events will cause damage and suffering can
be reduced by taking measures that decrease the vulnerability of
our societies. Adaptation to climate change impacts, which has long
been an issue in developing countries, is gaining relevance on the
European political agenda.
The
European Commission will release a Green Paper on Adaptation in
the near future, and the recent European Environment Agency report
"Vulnerability
and Adaptation to Climate Change" in Europe concludes that
there is considerable scope for adaptation planning and implementation
in areas such as public health, water resources and ecosystem management.
Changes in the distribution and availability of water may also provide
new opportunities for European societies, especially in the spheres
of agriculture and tourism. Whilst reiterating the ongoing need
for mitigation strategies and focusing on the prevalent challenges
of adaptation, an appropriate policy response to the impacts of
changing water resources will include management strategies that
maximise potential benefits and opportunities.
The aim of this conference and the related research
project is to contribute to identifying adaptation strategies
that are practicable, cost-efficient and tailor-made to the needs
of European regions.
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