Impact of climate change on water resources in focus at Amman workshop

A three-day regional training to develop the capacity of national and local water practitioners from the southern Mediterranean to undertake immediate precautionary measures towards the adaptation of the water sector to potential negative impacts of climate change, was recently conducted by the EU-funded project 'Sustainable Water Integrated Management – Support Mechanism (SWIM‐SM)' in Amman, Jordan in collaboration with the ‘Horizon 2020 Capacity Building –Mediterranean Environment Programme (H2020 CB/MEP)’.

A SWIM press release said the training, which took place from 3 to 5 October 2012, aimed to meet the following aims:

·       Raise the awareness of participants on the potential impacts of climate changes on water resources in the region, its socio-economic and environmental consequences,
·       Increase their understanding on the degree of vulnerability particularly to increasing drought and flood events,
·       Make the case for adopting the no-regret actions approach as the appropriate and immediate means for the water sector to adapt to climate change,
·       Introduce appropriate approaches for planning, strategizing and developing no-regret actions measures, plans and policies, with a special focus on drought and flood management,
·       Review capacity, political commitments and measures needed for the creation of an enabling environment for the implementation of no-regret actions including institutional, legislative and financial needs,
·       Identify and discuss appropriate approach and practices for mainstreaming no-regret actions into IWRM policy frameworks,
·       Identify the optimal communication and public participation strategies to enhance the role of communities in designing and implementing no-regret water management measures.
 

Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) is a Regional Technical Assistance Programme launched by the European Commission, with a total budget of approximately €22 million, to contribute to the extensive dissemination and effective implementation of sustainable water management policies and practices in the Southern Mediterranean Region. 
The Programme carries forward the results achieved by two earlier EC regional programmes, SMAP (I, II and III) and MEDA Water. SWIM consists of two major Components, which are inter-related and complement each other: a Support Mechanism funded with a budget of €6.7 million and Demonstration Projects funded with a budget of €15 million.  

The Horizon 2020 initiative aims to improve the quality of life of more than 420 million citizens living in the 25 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is an umbrella programme drawing together all the policies, strategies and action plans for enhancing environmental protection.

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Read more: 

• Press release 
• Information Note 
• SWIM – fiche and news 
• SWIM - website 
• Horizon 2020 CB/MEP webpage 
• Horizon 2020 - website