A WORKSHOP ON WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION IS HELD IN MEXICO

• Twenty-five countries and 24 international organizations attended the workshop to discuss their experiences with the impacts of climate change on water and ways to address this.

• Their conclusions will contribute to the global climate change negotiations at the COP 18 that will be held later this year in Doha, Qatar.

• For Mexico, 2010 was the second rainiest year in 70 years. It ranked sixth worldwide in meteorological and hydrological disasters. It also had its worst drought in as many years in 2011 and early 2012.

Representatives from 25 countries and 24 international organizations designated by the Member States of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) met in Mexico City from July 18-20 for a workshop on water and climate change and strategies for adaptation. Together with representatives from the private sector, academia and civil society, they discussed their experiences, challenges and ways to improve the sustainable use of water resources and to strengthen adaptation strategies to climate change on water.

The workshop is one of the activities of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) , in accordance with the decisions reached at the COP 17 in Durban. It was organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat in collaboration with the Mexican government, through the National Water Commission (CONAGUA).

The workshop was chaired by SBSTA President Richard Muyungi, who in the opening session highlighted the importance of analyzing in depth the effects of climate change on water resources and ensuring that developing countries have the support they need to implement adaptation strategies based on their needs and circumstances so that they can minimize the adverse impacts of global warming on water.

In his inaugural address, CONAGUA Director General Jose Luis Luege Tamargo said that, in 2010, Mexico suffered its second rainiest year in 70 years and held sixth place in the world for the number of meteorological and hydrological disasters it experienced. Then, in 2011 and early 2012, the country experienced its worst drought in the same 70-year period. He mentioned this to illustrate the fact that the extreme weather conditions are intensifying, forcing Mexico to take steps to strengthen its management of water.

A recent World Bank report noted that by 2030, as a result of climate change, half the people on Earth will live in areas with a high degree of pressure on water resources, making it necessary to adopt long-term strategies at the present time.

The results of the workshop will be presented at the next SBSTA meeting, which will be held during COP18 in Doha, Qatar in late 2012.