Without concerted action, the truths about climate change are
unpalatable, even frightening. The climate crisis represents the
single greatest challenge humankind faces today but we do have the
means to meet this challenge.
CIWEM believes it is time to face up to the reality of climate
change and the scale of the challenge. The time for debate
has passed. The scientific evidence for human-induced climate
change is clear. Without unprecedented commitment and cooperation,
future generations face a bleak outlook characterised by a hostile
climate and greatly diminished resources. The most recent evidence
indicates that keeping climate change below what are commonly
regarded as dangerous levels represents a huge challenge which must
be acted upon, decisively and immediately.
CIWEM's work on climate change issues is coordinated through the
Climate Change
Network and its steering group.
CIWEM's Climate Change Activities
UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change) - CIWEM is a registered observer under the
Conference of Parties (COP) which gives the institution the right
to attend all the relevant meetings and input into discussions of
the UNFCCC. In addition, CIWEM is encouraging members to become
involved in the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) which is focused on
developing technical guidance related to adaptation.
CIWEM is a member of The Water and Climate Coalition
(WCC). The WCC's vision is for water resources management
to be placed at the heart of policy responses to climate change.
The WCC seeks to achieve its vision through bringing together
stakeholders from across the global water community to promote
progressive and integrated water and climate change policy on an
international level. It does this through advocacy on water and
climate on a global level, working with members to develop policy
recommendations, statements and interventions as well as
co-ordinating events, seminars and workshops. A major focus of the
WCC is to influence the outcomes of the negotiations under the
UNFCCC but it is also active in other intergovernmental processes
where water and climate issues are relevant.
CIWEM chairs the European Water Association
(EWA) Climate Change Working Group. The institution is
also the EWA representative on the Strategic Steering Group Climate
& Water which is part of the Common Implementation Strategy
under the Water Framework Directive. This group is tasked with
ensuring that climate change issues are taken into full account
when implementing the directive. The group has already pushed for
the current River Basin Management Plans to have a chapter
outlining the impact of climate change and worked on the production
of Guidance
Document 24: River Basin Management in a Changing Climate.
CIWEM produces Policy Position Statements which
not only set out the position of CIWEM on given issues but are also
used and valued as introductory summaries for CIWEM members, the
public and press who are interested in the subject. Policy
outputs are guided by CIWEM's Technical Panels which consist of
members of the Institution with specific expertise in given
areas. The remits of all CIWEM's Panels include the
requirement to consider Climate Change in the context of the issues
they cover.
CIWEM responds to a wide range of consultations and
enquiries the majority of which include strong
representations on climate change.
Please see the page documents side tab to download
these resources.
PPSs:
