Over several decades climate change has been interrelated to fluctuations in the large-scale hydrological cycle. Climate, freshwater, biophysical and socio-economic systems are unified in complex ways, so a change in any one of these induces a change in another. Climate change augments a major pressure to the nations that are already confronting the issue of sustainable freshwater use. These predicaments may be aggravated by climate change. Water-related dilemmas play a prominent role among the pivotal regional and sectoral susceptibilities. Therefore, the relationship between climate change and water resources is of prime apprehension. So far, water resource issues have not been sufficiently dealt in climate change analyses and climate policy formulations. Likewise, in most cases, climate change problems have not been adequately addressed with in water resources analyses, management and policy formulation.

Globally, the adverse impacts of future climate change on water systems are likely to outweigh the benefits. Higher water temperatures and changes in extremes, including floods and droughts, are predetermined to distress water quality and intensify many forms of water pollution with potential adverse impacts on ecosystems, human health and water system consistency. In addition, sea-level rise is anticipated to outspread areas of salinization of groundwater and estuaries, resulting in a decrease of freshwater accessibility for life in coastal areas. Changes in water quantity and quality due to climate change are expected to affect food availability, stability, access and utilization. Climate change affects the function and operation of existing water infrastructure including hydropower, structural flood fortifications, drainage and irrigation systems as well as water management practices. Existing water management practices may not be vigorous enough to cope with the impacts of climate change on water supply reliability, flood risk, health, agriculture, energy and aquatic ecosystems.

This international workshop will focus on improved incorporation of information about current climate variability into water-related management in order to assist adaptation to longer-term climate change impacts.

Objectives:

• to improve our understanding of the links between  climate change, its implications and response options for water resources;
• to identify research needs related to climate change and water
• to review existing water management practices for coping with climate change impacts

Seminar Delivery:

The seminar will be one day international technical workshop comprising of lectures/presentations and group dialogues.

Seminar Outcome:

• A clear understanding of climate change and its impacts on water resources
• Identification of challenges in existing water management practices in climate change perspective
• Scoping of climate change induced water issues in Pakistan and Asia Pacific regions
• Elaboration of key research areas in the region for improved and effective implementation

Summary and Recommendations

This international workshop was focused on improved incorporation of information about current climate variability into water-related management in order to assist adaptation to longer-term climate change impacts.

Objectives:

• to improve our understanding of the links between  climate change, its implications and response options for water resources;
• to identify research needs related to climate change and water
• to review existing water management practices for coping with climate change impacts

Participants:

• Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and Pacific, Indonesia
• Dr. Manzoor Soomro, President, ECOSF, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, PCRWR, Islamabad,  Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz, VC AAUR, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
• Dr. Manzoor, A. Malik, Director, PCRWR, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Mr. Hazrat Mir, Chief Meteorologist NDMC, PMD, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Mr. Alamgir Khan, Head Flood Cell, FFC, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Asma Younas, Principal Scientific Officer UNESCO Chair on Knowledge Systems for IWRM, Wah, Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Hamza Gabriel, NUST, Islamabad Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Kamran Akhtar, NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Aftab Sadiq, Principal Wah Engg College, Wah, Pakistan
• Dr. Ad Khan, PCRWR, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Syed Muhammad Raza Shah, National Science Officer, UNESCO, Pakistan
• Mr. Junaid Naseem, Knowledge Systems Specialist, UNESCO, Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Ghumman, UET, Taxila, Pakistan
• Dr. Sajjad Haider, NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Muhammad Munir Ahmad, Director CAEWRI, NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Khalid Riaz, Dean Management Sciences Deptt. CIIT-Islamabad
• Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen, CIIT-Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Kamran Syed, Asstt Prof., NICE, SCEE, NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Dr. Saeed A. Asad, Centre for Climate Research & Development (CCRD) CIIT, Islamabad, Pakistan
• Engr. Muhammad Umer, NICE, NUST
• Representatives CIIT-Abbottabad and CIIT-Islamabad

Summary:

The program started at 1000hrs with recitation of Holy Quran and national Anthem followed by welcome address by Prof. Dr. Tayyeb Akram, Director CIIT-Wah.

Dr Saeed A. Asad from Centre for Climate Research & Development (CCRD) CIIT, Islamabad, Pakistan gave a presentation on vulnerability of Pakistan’s water sector to climate change impacts. He highlighted the issues that only a limited number of organizations/experts are involved in studies around the climate change-hydrology nexus. Researchers are facing challenging barriers such as access to quality data, financial constraints, and a lack of trained human resources, along with the non-availability of scientific tools and the non-existence of a water resource regulatory authority and a central databank were identified as major impediments for scientists

Dr. Shahbaz Khan gave a detailed overview of Climate Change Adaptation and
Water Security Issues in Asia Pacific. He emphasized that we need to urgently consider ways to transit towards a Green Economy (the Rio+20 agenda); but how to achieve that, and what will be needed to get there? Climate change is linked to almost all the other global challenges. The 10 key global challenges were discussed i.e. poverty eradication, pollution, population growth, food security, diseases, disasters, water and environmental resources, climate change, peace and security. It is a challenge to solve these issues while reducing GHG emissions. The imbalance of our ecosystem was also underlined. Some UNESCO projects related to water education and climate change adaption were mentioned i.e. International Hydrological Programme (IHP),Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS), Man and the Biosphere (MAB), Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC), ADopting DRR in Education for Safer Schools (ADDRESS),

Green technologies for mitigation included:

• Either substantially reduce GHG emissions or increase capture g GHG
• Managing natural resources, especially forests, peat lands, land use patterns, reduce acidification and pollution
• While mitigation measures need to be up-scaled immediately, substantial investments need to be made also in adaptation
• For adaptation building resilient cities, preparedness and local and indigenous knowledge is the need of the day

The technical session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Shahbaz Khan; the co-chairs were Prof. Dr. Ashraf, Prof. Dr. Manzoor Soomro, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz, Prof. Dr. Tayyeb Akram and Mr. Alamgir Khan. The panelists were the experts from academia, governmental and non-governmental organization. The students also actively participated and raised issues like resilient communities, awareness, formation of society for environment and post-secondary education on climate change.

Recommendations:

• Priorities of investment especially in higher education should be exact- Strengthen climate change education at the post-secondary level
• Awareness raising involving students to criticize and understand problems - Global awareness and ‘Educating for Sustainable Development’
• “Water pricing and incentives for water recycling” should be introduced
• There should be a group/society of water and environmental professionals of Pakistan
• UNESCO Chair should work on risk base approaches to water and environment
• Policy studies in climate change by UNESCO Chair and Center of Policy Studies CIIT-Islamabad
• For Integrated Water Resource Management, ECOSF, PCRWR, UNESCO Chair and other universities and organizations should make collective effort in Water Education
• Trans-boundary studies, policy related research should be undertaken
• IHP and MAB Committee should link with UNESCO Chair for future activities
• Establish an action research program focused on water demand management- establish a central repository for water data and analysis
• Full understanding of complexities and inter-actions, and use of inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches
• Cooperation and partnerships at all levels
• Effective large scale initiatives for ‘new food’, ‘new energy’, and ‘new cities’.
• Increase local communities awareness, preparedness, and prevention of hydro-meteorological disasters and climate change impacts through integration of local and Indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge
• DRR programmes and activities before disaster, plans ready for emergency response and evacuation during disaster; and school recovery plans after disaster