Global experts have called on countries and regions to channel resources to water resources management in view of rising vulnerability as result of climate change.
They anticipate that there is growing risk of water shortage to the tune of 20 percent by the end of the century, which increases the vulnerability in risk management adaptability.
Climate change they further argue has direct impacts on natural resources, ecosystems and societies with water sector as among the most affected.
“The impacts of climate change on water cycle are complex and differentiated based on different regions of the world, with strong human, economic and environmental impacts”.
The experts made the call on Monday at the International Conference on Water and Climate taking place in Rabat, Morocco with the theme “Water Security for Climate Justice”
According to them, lack of data on water resource information system is a major setback that needs to be tackled if progress were to be made in funding, implementation and realisation of set goals.
Mme Charafat Afailal, minister of water Resources of Morocco said the government of Morocco has initiated a number of measures towards increasing water supply through dams and irrigation infrastructure.
Afailal said government appreciates the danger of climate change and need to protect available resources while making efforts to increase supply for its agriculture.
To build on these strength, our country has a National Water Plan so as to ensure an integrated management of water resources, and meet the challenges of climate change, she said.
“Despite the progress made in the field of water resource management, the Kingdom of Morocco continues to face major challenges related to water stress located in geographical area that are experiencing a scarcity of resources, combined with increase in extreme weather events, and a very irregular rainfall. The country is facing the negative effects of climate change related to water, which are more and more restrictive”.
Abdel-Ilah Benkiran, chief of government of Morocco pointed out that as country and region we must as matter of need “manage this water, save this water, and we must sanitise the environment to secure available resources, while making effort to increase supply.
He noted that special attention should be given to water in Africa on the same level with energy, calling for interregional cooperation of heads of government and parliament on issues of water resource management.
Speaking during panellist session on the topic “Water Vulnerability to Climate Change”, Blanca Jimenze-Cisneros, water director at UNESCO said if policy makers and affected regions take proactive steps, the vulnerability exposure of water could be managed.
Johannes Cullman, director of climate and water, World Metrological Organisation said efforts must be geared towards developing global and regional plans for water management.
“There must be road map and platforms towards saving water in adaptation to climate change.
Abdallah Mokssit, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) observed that the world is in danger of running shortage of water soon.
Mokssit said there is need for risk management adaptability by protecting water resources.
“Implementing adaptation programmes with speed and investment of resources is critical in managing the vulnerability, says Jean- Francoise Donzier, secretary general of the international network of Basis Organisation (INBO).
He further noted that a lot of data is needed to make firms decisions, as available data on water information management system were getting obsolete.
Other discussant at the plenary session observed the need to build more dams and irrigation infrastructure to support growing population on water needs and adaptability to climate change.
In order to position water in the heart of international climate negotiations, the Ministry Delegate in charge of Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, the French Ministry of Environment, Energy and the Sea and the World Water Council decided to organize the International Conference on Water and Climate (ICWC) in Rabat, midway between the Conference of Parties (COP) of Paris and that of Marrakech. The conference aims to give a strong signal on the need to include the issue of water in the various aspects of climate discussions which would take place during the COP22 in taking place in November in Marrakech.
Modestus Anaesoronye
