Recognizing that climate change is to a great extend water change, a new alliance has been formed on June 2^nd at a side event at the climateClimate is typically defined as the average weather (or more rigorously a statistical description of the average in terms of the mean and variability) over a period of time, usually 30 years. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate ... talks in Bonn.  Water is the primary medium through which the negative impacts of climate changeClimate change is a lasting change in weather patterns over long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomena and and has occurred on Earth even before people inhabited it. Quite different is a current situation that is also referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or ... will be felt.  Many organizations such as the WWF and the Global Water Partnership (GWPAn index, based upon radiative properties of well mixed greenhouse gases, measuring the radiative forcing of a unit mass of a given well mixed greenhouse gas in today's atmosphere integrated over a chosen time horizon, relative to that of carbon dioxide. The GWP represents the combined effect ...) have joined forces to highlight the crucial role that water plays in the global climate system.

June 2^nd was declared “Water Day” by the Water and Climate Coalition, with several events and speeches throughout the day. Issues discussed were

• The Water Management Perspective

How can water resource management best comply with national climate change adaptation strategies-especially regarding flood and drought management? It was further argued how the UNFCCCThe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty that resulted from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Their aim is to limit GHG emissions to levels that will not threaten the environment and livleyhoods. can support such steps.

• The Water Supply and Sanitation Perspective

A major impact of climate change is how it will affect water supply and sanitation systems globally and particularly in developing countries.

• Financing – Mobilizing Finance for AdaptationAdjustments in human and natural systems, in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, that moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. (IPPC) in the Water Sector

This session addressed the need for additional funding, as current funding available is only a fraction of what’s needed to adapt water management in poor, vulnerable countries. Another point was the fact that funding and investment needs to speed up.

• MitigationMitigation refers to actions that reduce our contribution to the causes of climate change. This means reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), through energy efficiency and using alternative forms of transport and energy.(UKCIP) – Water and EnergyThe ability to perform work, mainly kinetic, potential, thermal energy, but also in forms of gravitational, sound, elastic and electromagnetic energy. interlinkages in the context of Climate Change

The development of renewable energy sources such as hydropowerHydro power is electrical energy produced through the power of moving water.
Power obtained from the (typically gravitational) movement of water. and bioenergyEnergy from sustainable sources such as forests and agriculture (like wood and energy crops), but also manure and other biodegradable wastes. Includes biogas, biofuels and solid biomass. has direct implications for water resource use and management.  The IPCC states that the relationship between climate change mitigationMitigation refers to actions that reduce our contribution to the causes of climate change. This means reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), through energy efficiency and using alternative forms of transport and energy.(UKCIP) measures and water is a reciprocal one. How can water security and energy security be achieved simultaneously?

The Water and Climate Coalition, addressing the UNFCCC, stated several points and recommended strategies.

• Building resilience through Integrated Water Resources Management Effective water allocation systems supported by participatory water governance and fair water rights help enable flexible responses to risks and uncertainty caused by climate change.

• Integrating NAPAsThe purpose of developing a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) is to identify the urgent and immediate needs of a country to adapt to the present threats from climate change. Addressing these needs will expand the current coping range and enhance resilience in a way that will promote ... and Integrated Water Resources Management National Adaptation Programmes of ActionThe purpose of developing a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) is to identify the urgent and immediate needs of a country to adapt to the present threats from climate change. Addressing these needs will expand the current coping range and enhance resilience in a way that will promote ... (NAPAs) and any other country adaptation strategies must be developed in consultation with water resources managers and build on existing solutions available from Integrated Water Resources Management processes and plans.

• Enhancing Regional and Transboundary Adaptation Climate change impactsConsequences of climate and climate change on natural and human systems. (IIED)
  A specific change in a system caused by its exposure to climate change. Impacts may be harmful (threat) or beneficial (opportunity). (UKCIP) do not respect national borders. Strategies need to be developed to cope with the additional strains that changes in water availability will put on relations between states.

• Promoting EcosystemA system of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. The boundaries of what could be called an ecosystem are somewhat arbitrary, depending on the focus of interest or study. Thus, the extent of an ecosystem may range from very small spatial scales to, ...-based Adaptation Protecting, preserving and conserving ecosystemsA system of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. The boundaries of what could be called an ecosystem are somewhat arbitrary, depending on the focus of interest or study. Thus, the extent of an ecosystem may range from very small spatial scales to, ... is critical to building resilience to climate change impacts on water resources.Especially women and girls are affected by increased stress on water resources and spend more time collecting water than on their education
• Building Resilience of Water Supply and Sanitation
• Recognising the role of adaptive water management for livelihoodsSustainable livelihood includes job opportunities that are of a non-invasive type, and exclude extensive felling, heavy fishery, mono-cultures and other activities than permanently harm the environment; it also includes an lifestyle that takes care of any gives assets, such as fresh water or ... Poverty is very often linked to water stressA country is water stressed if the available freshwater supply relative to water withdrawals acts as an important constraint on development. In global- scale assessments, basins with water stress are often defined as having a per capita water availability below 1,000 m3/yr (based on long-term .... Small scale farmers feed one third of the world’s population and heavily rely on rain and small scale irrigation.

• Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Water Resources Management
• Recognising the reciprocal relationship between climate change mitigation and water
• Addressing the carbon footprint of the water sector Water services contribute about 4 % of the global GHG emissions, a strong declaration will help utilities to strengthen their energy and GHG emissionGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour. reduction objectives.

• Integrating climate change mitigation with integrated water resources management In regard to the further development of hydropower and biofuelsLiquid fuels and blending components produced from biomass (plant) feedstocks, used primarily for transportation.
  Bio fuels are liquid fuels that are produced of plant material or herbal remains., the aim must be to avoid ‘maladaptation’ that reduces climate resilience, such as inducing future shortages of water for essential needs

• Avoiding assumptions about future water availability
• Enhancing energy efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less. in the water sector
• Recognising the mitigation impacts of adaptation actions in the water sector
• Generating new and additional finance for adaptation to climate change impacts on water Existing studies on the additional costs of adaptation in the water sector estimate the costs as up to $20 billion/year in developing countries, and this represents the third most costly sector for adapting to climate change.

• Meeting the MDGA set of time-bound and measurable goals for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, discrimination against women and environmental degradation, agreed at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. (IPCC) (Millennium Development Goals) Water and Sanitation Target

I hope the Coalition will be successful in promoting their sensible strategies and goals and help us adapting to climate change and keeping in mind that water is the basis of all life.