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Book explores climate change impact on transboundary basins

Paris – The International Network of Basin Organizations and the UN Economic Commission for Europe have published a book focusing on climate change and its impact on transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers in the UN collection.

In spite of local uncertainties about the intensity and variability of climate change and about its impacts on water resources, it is urgent to initiate now adaptation measures in river basin management, including transboundary basins, the International Network of Basin Organizations said in a news release. Thus, the drafting of multi-year Management Plans for the Basins (INBO) of national and transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers is becoming a priority and should incorporate these adaptation measures.

In transboundary basins, strong co-operation between riparian countries is needed, and this requires attention to be paid at all levels and in all sectors, the network said. For the adaptation strategy to have solid bases, the participation of all stakeholders is essential, crossing the multiple physical, political and institutional borders, and opening it up to all sectors with water-related activities.

Some basin organizations around the world have already taken action to adapt to climate change. It is now crucial to be able to benefit from their experience and to promote exchanges among all institutions concerned by climate change adaptation.

To facilitate this exchange, the INBO and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have joined forces to initiate and publish this document, which mobilized about 60 experts from international organizations, and transboundary and national basin organizations worldwide.

This publication identifies the field experiments made and aims to provide practical advice through 58 case studies and 63 “lessons learned” about how to prepare and implement a strong, realistic and operational medium-to-long-term strategy for adapting to climate change in the basins.

This publication, distributed free of charge and now published in English and French, will be also translated in other languages.

It is published with the support of the Dutch and Swiss Governments and of the French National Office for Water and Aquatic Environments (ONEMA).

It continues previous joint publications, including “Handbook on Integrated Water Resources Management in Basins” (2009), the “Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in Transboundary Basins of Rivers, Lakes and Aquifers” (2012), the “Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change” (2009) or the “Report on experiences of Transboundary Basin Organizations in Africa” (2014).

Read the full English version.