Successful side-event at UNECE Workshop

Thursday, 05 May 2011

On 13 April more than 30 participants and five panellists met in Geneva to discuss adaptive water resources management in Russia and the New Independent States. The discussion took place in the context of the 2^nd Workshop on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change in Transboundary Basins, hosted by the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Water Convention in Geneva. You can find the participants list and workshop presentations from the UNECE workshop here.

Decision makers and practitioners shared views on the different opportunities and barriers in introducing more adaptive water governance practices. In speaking of the obstacles the panellists stressed the importance of institutional resistance to change, as well as other cultural issues such as perceived value of water. New governance approaches therefore need to be carefully introduced and given enough time to become rooted in existing institutions and cultures.

In terms of opportunities Elena Ostrovskaya, of the UNESCO-IHE, stressed the importance of education and scientific input for adaptive governance. These can increase the understanding of water managers and decision makers about the complex and changing requirements that water system have in adapting to climate change. Furthermore, science and education should be a substantial part in in the various phases of adaptive management, in order to adjust approaches to changing circumstances and uncertainties.

The side event was the first of four policy workshops in Twin2Go.Three further such policy side-events will take place until September – the next taking place at the Singapore International Water Week on 4 July. The side-event "Adapting to climate change - policy insights and best practices for adaptive water governance" will focus on the Twin2Go region of South and Southeast Asia.

More information on the Twin2Go Policy Workshops is made available on the Workshops page.