From B. R. Neupane, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), New Delhi
Posted 1 July 2009
I serve with the UNESCO’s Cluster Office at New Delhi as the South Asia’s Regional Programme Specialist for Water Sciences. We are organizing a 3-day workshop in August 2009 on Climate Change and Water Resources. The Delhi College of Engineering, Columbia University, CIP Trust in India and the Water Community are other promoters of this workshop. It will aim at assessing and adapting to the impacts of global hydrological change, both as a subset and principle indicator of global climate change. It will discuss what is needed for India and the region.
Fresh water resources are under stress around the world due to the exponential growth in population and per capita resource use, that are the drivers of energy consumption, anthropogenic climate, and hydrologic change. Significant research has been done on climate change assessment, mitigation and adaptation. However, there is only fragmentary research on global hydrologic change and data is limited, despite recognition of its importance.
This degradation of fresh water resources is a harbinger of a major crisis. Its impact on humans and the ecology may be at least as severe as that caused by greenhouse gasses. Increasing urbanization is altering areas near river courses and low lying coastal areas. Intensification of agriculture is contributing to deforestation and desertification. Increased water use for agriculture and urbanization is leading to hydrologic modifications. It is important to understand, predict and manage the potential impacts of climate change on regional and global water resources. Local human modifications of the hydrologic cycle through direct use, storage and redistribution, changes in land cover and use, and pollution, is a primary concern for local and global risk management. A changing climate increases the uncertainty associated with the future availability and variability of fresh water sources.
These are exacerbating factors of human-induced changes in the local, terrestrial hydrologic cycle. The effects are more pronounced at the river basin level. Since the immediate impacts of degradation of a freshwater resource are felt locally, assessment and recognition of the evolution of a global water crisis has been slow.
In view of the above, I request inputs from the members on the following:
1. What is the existing knowledge-base for climate change in the context of water resources in India?
2. What is the existing capacity in India to understand climate change, impact and adaptation issues?
3. In the context of (1) and (2) above, please suggest specific research areas and capacity building needs.
4. Climate change is a wider issue, thus regional cooperation and collective action are imperatives. Apropos, what should be the “regional responsibility” of India in South Asia
(seso-stricto) to combat climate change and facilitate adaptation?
Your inputs will help us set the agenda for the workshop. The members with the two best responses will be sponsored to attend the workshop and share their experiences.
Please see attachment below for the responses.