Cross-Comparison of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Across Large River Basins in Europe, Africa and Asia

Abstract

A cross-comparison of climate change adaptation strategies across regions was performed, considering six large river basins as case study áreas. Three of the basins, namely the Elbe, Guadiana, and Rhine, are located in Europe, the Nile Equatorial Lakes región and the Orange basin are in África, and the Amudarya basin is in Central Asia. The evaluation was based mainly on the opinions oí policy makers and water management experts in the river basins. The adaptation strategies were evaluated considering the following issues: expected climate change, expected climate change impacts, drivers for development oí adaptation strategy, barriers for adaptation, state oí the implementation oí a range oí water management measures, and status oí adaptation strategy implementation. The analysis oí responses and cross-comparison were performed with rating the responses where possible. According to the expert opinions, there is an understanding in all six regions that climate change is happening. Different climate change impacts are expected in the basins, whereas decreasing annual water availability, and increasing frequency and intensity oí droughts (and to a lesser extent floods) are expected in all oí them. According to the responses, the two most important drivers for development of adaptation strategy are: climate-related disasters, and national and international policies. The following most important barriers for adaptation to climate change were identified by responders: spatial and temporal uncertainties in climate projections, lack of adequate financial resources, and lack of horizontal cooperation. The evaluated water resources management measures are on a relatively high level in the Elbe and Rhine basins, followed by the Orange and Guadiana. It is lower in the Amudarya basin, and the lowest in the NEL región, where many measures are only at the planning stage. Regarding the level of adaptation strategy implementation, it can be concluded that the adaptation to climate change has started in all basins, but progresses rather slowly.

Impact of agricultural land use in Central Asia: a review

“…Additionally, the increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods might also be directly linked to the climate change in the region (Krysanova et al 2010). The findings of reviews confirm the role on climate change as an important driver of sustainability impacts on agricultural land use.…”

“…The effects of climate change in the region have adversely affected the availability of high-quality water and productive soil for agriculture (Krysanova et al 2010;Qadir et al 2013). Additionally, the increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods might also be directly linked to the climate change in the region (Krysanova et al 2010).…”

How can irrigated agriculture adapt to climate change? Insights from the Guadiana Basin in Spain

“…However, adaptation to climate change in these sectors requires a revision of the region's current governance structures. Local circumstances and the involvement of key stakeholders are of major importance when developing regional adaptation plans (Downing 2012;Krysanova et al 2010). To address these issues, it has been pointed out the necessity to develop appropriate frameworks, models and tools to support decision making and to bridge the gap between science, policy and action (Meinke et al 2009;CEC 2013).…”

“…They were asked to decide on a reduced set of planned adaptation measures according to their suitability and effectiveness to increase resilience in the Guadiana Basin in light of the adverse impacts of climate change illustrated by the modeling results. Following stakeholders' advice and based on previous studies (Blanco-Gutiérrez et al 2013;Krysanova et al 2010), four adaptation measures were selected as the most appropriate to deal with climate change impacts in the region of study: (1) improving technical efficiency in the use of water (M 1 ); (2) increasing reservoir storage capacity (M 2 ); (3) choosing new crop varieties best suited to the new climate conditions (M 3 ); and (4) creation of agricultural insurance systems (M 4 ). These measures are commonly presented in other adaptation studies as key strategic actions to increase the resilience of the agriculture sector to climate change (e.g., Dolan et al 2001;Howden et al 2007).…”

Integrated assessment of policy interventions for promoting sustainable irrigation in semi-arid environments: A hydro-economic modeling approach

“…At present, the basin holds 43 large dams with a total storage capacity of almost 8000 Mm^ (nearly, 15% of the total reservoir capacity in Spain), which makes the Middle Guadiana basin one of the most regulated basins in Europe (CHG, 2008). Irrigation expansión in the área has helped to partially mitígate the impacts of the region's once endemic drought and has brought about socio-economic prosperity to the rural communities ( Krysanova et al, 2010). Yet, it has been accompanied by the alteration of natural flow regimes, an increase in the diffusion of nitrogen poUution, the loss of riparian vegetation, and the degradation of important natural spaces of high ecological valué included in the EU Nature 2000 network, such as Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and Special Protection Áreas (SPA) (CHG, 2008).…”