Thursday 30^th July 2009

1:00 - 2:00pm Forestry Lecture Theatre

Forestry building no. 48

Conflicts and synergies between national climate change policies and sustainable water management

Jamie Pittock, PhD Scholar, Fenner School of Environment and Society

Abstract

Globally freshwater resources and ecosystems are under great pressure due to increasing demand for water and declines in water quality. Climate change will exacerbate these impacts. To date most public discussion has focused on the direct impacts of climate change on hydrology. However, there is growing evidence that climate change policies developed without adequate consideration of their implications for water and biodiversity may have substantial additional impacts on freshwater resources and ecosystems, and represent maladaptation. A systematic assessment of policies from Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Tanzania is discussed. Major trends in application of technologies and development of institutions are identified, highlighting conflicts and synergies.

The links between climate, water and the environment create additional challenges for governments to develop more integrated policies that identify and favor measures that deliver multiple benefits. Success factors for better policy development identified in this assessment include engagement of senior political leaders, cyclical policy development (such as five year plans), multi-agency and stakeholder processes, and stronger accountability and enforcement measures.

Jamie will also briefly report (mid-term) on how this paper contributes to progress in research on his PhD thesis.

Bio

Jamie Pittock trained in zoology and geography at Monash University, Australia. From 1989-2001 he was employed by a number of non-government groups in Australia, to work on a range of issues for the conservation of nature. In particular, he led WWF advocacy for nature conservation programs, and also new Australian environmental laws, which were enacted in 1999. Jamie was Director of WWF's Global Freshwater Programme from 2001 to 2007, one of WWF's five global priorities. This work promoted establishment and management of freshwater protected areas, sustainable river basin management, and sustainable use of water by agriculture and industry globally. Jamie represented WWF in a range of international processes, such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, World Water Forum, and China Council on International Cooperation and Development's Integrated River Basin Management Taskforce. From July 2007 Jamie has been a WWF Research Associate, undertaking PhD research on river management and climate change based at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, ANU. The research is focused on the conflicts and synergies between water and climate change policies.

The Fenner School Seminar Series is held in the Forestry Lecture Theatre, Forestry Building 48, Linnaeus Way (comes off Daley Road), ANU (Acton) campus, ACT

The seminar will start at 13:00 and finish at 14:00