Science-Policy Interface for water

Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development

12 June 2012

Global water resources management challenges

oComplex challenges associated with global water quantity and quality

oExacerbated by climate change

oCharacteristics of water resources management : multi-scale, multi-disciplinarily, holistic approach, multi-actors

there’s a need for comprehensive scientific information provision to support evidence-based water policies development by governments, UN conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD, UNCBD)

there’s a need for a global science-policy interface

aiming :

oto support water policies development with complete and up-to-date scientific information and

oto allow water managers and policy makers to express their needs for information and expertise

Current situation

o 28 UN agencies dealing with water topics

o UNESCO-IHP: devoted to water research, water resources management, and education and capacity building

o UNU-INWEH: a think tank of the UN on water

o Coordinated through World Water Assessment Programme

A comprehensive science-policy interface for water at a global level doesn’t exist

Recommendation : a networking platform

To establish an international networking platform

to provide water policy sector with scientific information complete and agreed both by scientific and political sectors related to global

water resources, uses and demands, and water management

to support UN conventions with water-related information

and to allow water managers to provide scientists with specifications on their needs for expertise and information.

The outcomesRegular and special reports on water resources, uses and

demands, and governance and managementDelivered to governments, UN conventions, other stakeholders

Organisation

This platform would consist of scientists, hydrologists and other experts, water managers, policy makers,

This network would coordinate with relevant UN agencies and UN conventions on climate, biodiversity

and desertification scientific processes.

This platform should preferably be built on an existing activity such as WWAP

At the 6th World water forum

A case study applied to climate change domain:

A platform/ science-policy interface for researchers and water managers to facilitate communications in relation with the IPCC and other UN

conventions,

to provide relevant scientific inputs to help water resources managers develop effective management and climate change adaptation strategies taking IPCC projections and uncertainties related to global and climate change into account at the relevant scales.

Next investigations Work with UN bodies on how to implement this recommendation

To elaborate a proposal in view of the 7th WWF

To finish off

Provide us with your views

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