Resource Categories
Documents
Climate / Meteo
IWRM
Disasters
Financing
Policy
Capactity Building
Events Presentations
Documents (top)
to view the CPWC publications on Water & Climate click here
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report - Summary for Policymakers (pdf)*
Feb 2007, Working Group I of the IPCC, Paris
"Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis”, assesses the current scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate, the ability of science to attribute changes to different causes, and projections for future climate change
Portfolio screening to support the mainstreaming of adaptation to climate change into development assistance (pdf)*
Feb 2007, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Working Paper 102
As a response to climate change, many development agencies have begun a process of screening their project portfolios. These have attempted to ascertain the extent to which existing development projects consider climate risks or address vulnerability to climate variability and change, and to identify opportunities for incorporating climate change explicitly into future projects. As each portfolio screening has been conducted independently, the broader lessons emerging from the screenings have not been systematically analysed. This paper assesses published screening activities to date and identifies opportunities for development agencies to expand their current focus on the links between climate and development.
Climate change and water adaptation issues (pdf)
13 Feb 2007, Technical report No 2/2007, European Environmental Agency
The report reviews the challenges facing Europe to adapt to the impacts of climate change on water resources. Water is a critical sector for people's lives and the economy. Using a policy analysis at European level, and a survey, the report reviews practices in countries and concludes that countries are aware of these impacts and have started to adapt to them but there is still much to do.
Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change (pdf)*
Jan 2006 Stern
The review considers the economic costs of the impacts of climate change, and the costs and benefits of action to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cause it. The evidence gathered by the Review leads to a simple conclusion: the benefits of strong, early action considerably outweigh the costs.
executive summary download PDF (309 kb)
summary of conclusions download PDF (95 kb)
Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Poverty in Africa (pdf)
2006 PK. Thornton et al.
This report has identified hotspots in Africa where people will be at greatest risk from the effects of climate change over the next 50 years, and established that the hotspots coincide with the very areas where some of the continent’s poorest people live, affirming growing concerns on the potentially damaging effects of climate change in Africa. The report finds that many communities across Africa that are already grappling with severe poverty are also at the cross-hairs of the most adverse effects of climate change.
Africa – up in Smoke 2, The second report on Africa and global warming from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development (pdf)
29 October 2006, New Economics Foundation (nef)
The report is based on the latest available scientific research and evidence from those living on the front line of global warming. It shows that climate change is already having serious impacts on peoples' lives across Africa - and is set to get much worse unless urgent action is taken.
for more information or to order a hardcopy of the report please visit the website of the New Economics Foundation.
Up in smoke? Latin America and the Caribbean: The threat from climate change to the environment and human development (pdf)
29 August 2006, New Economics Foundation (nef)
The report confirms that largely regular and predictable temperature and rainfall patterns, are changing, becoming less predictable and often more extreme. It catalogues the impact of climate change and environmental degradation ranging from drought in the Amazon to floods in Haiti and elsewhere; vanishing glaciers in Colombia to extreme cold in the Andes; and hurricanes, not only in Central America and the Caribbean, but also in southern Brazil.
for more information or to order a hardcopy of the report please visit the website of the New Economics Foundation
Drought in the Mediterraneam (pdf)
July 2006, WWF
More frequent and damaging droughts are expected to plague the Mediterranean region, warns a new WWF report. These droughts are worsened by irrigated agriculture, the most important water user in the Mediterranean.
Up in Smoke? (pdf)
20 October 2004, New Economics Foundation (nef)
The report says that global warming threatens to reverse human progress, and make the international targets on halving global poverty by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals, unattainable.
for more information, for other languages, or to order a hardcopy of the report please visit the website of the New Economics Foundation.
Pacific Institute’s Water and Climate Bibliography*
This Bibliography is a comprehensive database of scientific literature pertaining to climate change and freshwater resources worldwide. The current version contains 3600 entries, the database is updated on a regular basis. Abstracts are searched and displayed where available.
Climate / meteo (top)
Online resources
KNMI 2006 Climate Scenario's*
In May 2006, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) presented four new climate scenarios for the Netherlands (KNMI'06 scenarios). They will serve as the national standard in adaptation policies for the coming years.
Climate changes the water rules - the evidence (pdf)
Kabat, Schaik, 2003
This chapter on Meteorological Evidence is part of the book "Climate changes the water rules; How water managers can cope with today's climate variability and tomorrow's climate change".
Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
On February 16, 2005, 61 countries agreed to a plan that, over the next 10 years, will revolutionize the understanding of Earth and how it works. Agreement for a 10-year implementation plan for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, known as GEOSS, was reached by member countries of the Group on Earth Observations at the Third Observation Summit held in Brussels. Nearly 40 international organizations also support the emerging global network. The GEOSS project will help all nations involved produce and manage their information in a way that benefits the environment as well as humanity by taking a pulse of the planet.
UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)*
The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) provides scenarios that show how our climate might change and co-ordinates research on dealing with our future climate.
The website provides information on climate changes, as well as resources and tools on the topic. There are tools such as the Adaptation Wizard and other tools for decision making.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by
WMO and UNEP to assess scientific, technical and socio- economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
UNEP Climate Change Homepage
A portal for substantive work and information resources regarding climate change.
UNEP Vital Climate Graphics Africa
United Nations Environment Programme and its collaborating centre, GRID-Arendal present the "Vital Climate Change Graphics for Africa" as their special effort to provide easily understandable scientific information to policy makers working in Africa. Aset of 25 graphics focuses on the special challenges that Africa faces due to expected long term changes in climate.
CO2 Science Magazine
A weekly review and repository of scientific research findings pertaining to carbon dioxide and global change
The Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change is created to disseminate factual reports and sound commentary on new developments in the world-wide scientific quest to determine the climatic and biological consequences of the ongoing rise in the air's CO2 content.
Links to organizations
UNFCCC
Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty -- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -- to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. Recently, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau.
Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change
Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change (AIACC) is a global initiative developed in collaboration with the UNEP/WMO Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and funded by the Global Environment Facility to advance scientific understanding of climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation options in developing countries.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is standing as the preeminent National Meteorological Service in the southern hemisphere and one of the more technologically advanced in the world.
Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (C-CIARN)
C-CIARN is a national network that facilitates the generation of new climate change knowledge by bringing researchers together with decision-makers from industry, governments, and non-government organizations to address key issues.
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) functions as a Department under the Government of Fiji Islands and has the responsibility to provide an essential service to the country. It also serves on a regional scale providing weather forecasting and tropical cyclone warning services to many other countries and a vast area of the tropical South-west Pacific.
Global Warming International Center
The Global Warming International Center (GWIC) is the international body disseminating information on global warming science and policy, serving both governamental, non-governamental organizations, and industries in more than 145 countries.
International Research Institute for Climate Prediction
The mission of the IRI is to enhance society's capability to understand, anticipate and manage the impacts of seasonal climate fluctuations, in order to improve human welfare and the environment, especially in developing countries.
Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning
The overall aim of the Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning (PPEW) is “The reduction of the growing impacts of disasters, through the development of more systematic approaches to the use of early warning of the conditions that lead to disasters”.
IWRM (top)
Online resources
GWP ToolBox on Integrated Water Resources Management
The ToolBox is a comprehensive source of knowledge, experience and guidance for sustainable water resources development and management including service provision.
GWSP publications
LIst of publications of the Global Water Systems Project.
The Water Page
The Water Page is an independent initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable water resources management and use. A particular emphasis is placed on the development, utilisation and protection of water in Africa and other developing regions.
Europe, Water and the World (pdf)
The European Regional Document "Europe, Water and the World" shows key-issues on water in the European Region. The chapter on Risk Management was coordinated by CPWC.
Manifest on water and climatic risks (pdf)
A manifest (developed by CPWC and WUR) emphasizing that strategies for achieving the MDGs do not account for climate variability and change.
Water @ European Commission
A page on water-related research within the EC environmental research unit.
links to organizations
International Hydrological Programme (IHP-UNESCO)
The International Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO's intergovernmental scientific co-operative programme in water resources, is a vehicle through which Member States can upgrade their knowledge of the water cycle and thereby increase their capacity to better manage and develop their water resources. The Dutch contribution is coordinated through the Netherlands National Committee IHP-HWRP.
World Water Assessment Programme
This UN-wide programme seeks to develop the tools and skills needed to achieve a better understanding of those basic processes, management practices and policies that will help improve the supply and quality of global freshwater resources.
Brace Center for Water Resources Management
The Brace Centre for Water Resources Management is a multidisciplinary and advanced research and training centre of McGill University.
Disasters (top)
Online resources
National Natural Disaster Knowledge Network
An overview of Water and Climate related disasters.
Emergency Disasters Database
This searchable database allows you to generate a list of events (disasters and associated losses) for a particular spatial scope (country), period of time, and disaster type. Basic impact data is listed/associated with each record. Additional location details are also provided when available.
links to organizations
Red Cross Red Crescent climate centre
The Climate Centre supports National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to eventually reduce the loss of life and the damage done to the livelihoods of people affected by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. The Climate Centre is based in the Netherlands but serves the whole Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement, in particular in developing countries.
Natural Disasters Management Network (IADB)
The IDB is the oldest and largest regional development bank. It is the main source of multilateral financing for economic, social and institutional development projects as well as trade and regional integration programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
South African Floods and Drought Network
This SADC website provides information that the SADC community uses to monitor conditions within Southern Africa when cyclones, floods and drought occur as a result of anomalous climate and weather conditions.
Asian Disaster Reduction Center
The Asian Disaster Reduction Center has been established in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, to facilitate exchange of disaster reduction experts from each country and concerned bodies, accumulate and provide disaster reduction information, and carry out research into multinational disaster reduction cooperation as the focus of this initiative.
Financing (top)
Online resources
Munich Re reinsurance
An overview of downloadable Munich Re publications on finance/ insurance issues in relation to hydro-meteorological risks such as floods, storms and hurricanes.
Swiss Re focus reports
A list of focus reports featuring topics of significance to the reinsurance industry. These topics include natural hazards and risks such as floods and hurricanes.
links to organizations
DFID
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to aleviate extreme poverty. DFID works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and others. It also works with multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and the European Commission.
DGIS
Dutch ministry of foreign affairs - directorate general of international cooperation.
EC
Homepage of the EU - European Commission.
GEF
The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment.
SIDA
The Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Sida, is a government agency under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sida's goal is to contribute to making it possible for poor people to improve their living conditions
Policy (top)
Online resources
Putting climate change adaptation in the development mainstream (pdf)
An OECD policy brief on how climate change adaptation should be better imbedded in development activities.
Climate Change Convention and Kyoto protocol
This document provides a beginners guide to the climate change negotiation process. It covers the international response to climate change, the institutions created, the major participants in the negotiation process, and forthcoming climate change negotiations.
links to organizations
Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (HELP-UNESCO)
HELP is a joint initiative of the United Nations Educational Scientific Organization (UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
International Institute for Sustainable Development: Climate Change
The International Institute for Sustainable Development contributes to sustainable development by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and assessment, and natural resources management.
Capactity Building (top)
Online resources
GWP ToolBox on Integrated Water Resources Management*
The ToolBox is a comprehensive source of knowledge, experience and guidance for sustainable water resources development and management including service provision.
Sand Dams: Walking on Water - an Excellent Film*
a DVD, which includes a 30 minute feature documentary and a series of 12 mini-films, which can be viewed online. Whilst being critical to improving water supplies, food production, health and incomes for communities in semi-arid Kenya, sand dams are also a grassroots answer to fighting climate change, a benefit recently reinforced by the release of the government commissioned Stern Report.
Simulation games
STREAM is a river basin management instrument. It enables both policy makers and scientists to assess impacts of Climate Change and variability on the hydrology of river basins.
SPLASH is is a game for simulating integrated water management of river basins. You play the game in the role of water resources manager that has to deal with a number of conflicting issues in the river basin.
links to organizations
Safecoast
Project Safecoast focuses on combining science, policy and management in the field of coastal flooding and climate change. The project enables coastal managers to share and bundle their knowledge and experience to broadening their scope on flood risk management. The aim is to find and share new and innovative ways to keep our feet dry in the future.
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
The mission of UNESCO-IHE is to contribute to the education and training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organisations, knowledge centres and other institutions active in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure, in developing countries and countries in transition.
Cap-Net
Cap-Net is a network organization promoting Capacity Building for Integrated Water Resources Management.
Universities Water Information Network
About 90 universities in the Unites States and throughout the world comprise the UCOWR organization. Member institutions engage in education, research, public service, international activities, and information support for policy development related to water resources.
Water Education Foundation
The mission of the Water Education Foundation, an impartial non-profit organization, is to create a better understanding of water issues and help resolve water resource problems through educational programs.
Events Presentations (top)
Events presentations
IWA World Water Congress, Beijing
12-15 September 2006, Beijing, China
workshop: Climate Change in Practice - Planning for and Adapting to the Impacts of a Changing Climatic Conditions in the Management of Water
Water, wastewater and stormwater storage, treatment and distribution/collection systems have been constructed based on a set of historic data sets on temperature, rainfall, snowmelt. With climate change these are subject to change. This workshop, tied to the creation of a new Specialist Group within IWA Climate Change in Practice, surveyed the basic assumptions and considered how changes in underlying conditions could and will change urban stormwater and utility practice. The Workshop offered the opportunity to learn about the latest thinking on how climate change will impact urban/utility practice and what can be done to adapt to these changes.
For more workshop presentations of the World Water Congress 2006 please visit the IWA website
| 1. |
Introduction (pdf) |
| 2. |
Coping with climate in the city of the future (pdf) |
| 3. |
California Dreaming: Possible Impacts of Climate Change on Water in the Golden State (pdf) |
| 4. |
Adaptive strategies for drinking water production (pdf) |
| 5. |
From Global Concerns to Local Actions (pdf) |
| 6. |
Perspectives on coping with climate in India (pdf) |
| 7. |
Chinese strategies on coping with climate in water management /utilities (pdf) |
| 8. |
The effect on river water flow from climate change in Japan (tentative) (pdf) |
| 9. |
Introduction Terms of Reference for the Specialist Group on Water and Climate (pdf) |
Living with Climate Variability and Change: Understanding the Uncertainties and Managing the Risks
17-21 July 2006, Espoo, Finland
Organized by WMO and co-hosted by Finnish Meteorological Institute and the IRI. The conference reviewed opportunities and constraints in integrating climate risks and uncertainties into the mainstreams of decision-making. It drew on the experiences of public and private organizations worldwide that have been engaged in managing risks including those of a climatic origin. The presentations given at the event are available:
| 1. |
Water and Climate -Partnerships and Mechanisms for planning and operations in water management (pdf) |
| 2. |
Climate Information needs for integrated risk management of water resources - a South African perspective (pdf) |
| 3. |
A Practical Experience in A Practical Experience in Integrated Flood Management: Integrated Flood Management: Integrated Land and Water Resources Development in a River Basin (pdf) |
| 4. |
Designing 'resilience systems' in water and economic development (pdf) |
| 5. |
Climate and Development: Mitigating variability in water resources (pdf) |
| 6. |
Living with climate: Can the water sector lead in building resilient societies? (pdf) |
| 7. |
Managing Risks: Securing the Gains of Development (pdf) |
