Call for Innovation and Leadership

The session on climate change and adaptation offered concrete measures and practical insights. One of the speakers was Peter Gammeltoft, head of the unit "Protection of Water and Marine Environment, of the European Commission. Gammeltoft stated that by relatively easy techniques it will be possible to increase the reduction with 40% instead of the current European ambition to reduce 20%. Next to that it will be necessary to create demand saving processes in order to achieve smaller waterfootprints. On of the speakers was Coca Cola that reduced her footprint by reduction and re- use.

Speakers repeatedly stressed that policy and governance solutions also play an important role. European policies should allow for regional differences, tailor made solutions will be necessary. More cooperation between national regional and local levels is called for, considering short term and long term strategies. Also the importance for countries to share knowledge was underlined. The insights gained by the Dutch delta commission for example, will be shared widely in Europe.

Finance

Financially there are many challenges, as became clear in the second session of the summit. To implement EU Water Framework Directive extra investments will be needed, and climate change even increases this financial pressure. Postponing these measures will increase the burden on future generations. Europe should implement water pricing and invest in efficient allocation, water usage, networks and management. Water should be considered a raw material that is part of the value chain and necessary for almost every economic process.

Water scarcity

Climate change is only one of the reasons for water scarcity. The increase of use caused by a growing urban population, industry, and irrigation also causes more stress on the availability of water. We have to manage the demand. Non technological options should be considered, such as creating more awareness, also on the lowest user level.

The Agriculture sector is a major water user. To decrease the demand of this sector, more efficient irrigation is important. Europe could look for crops that demand less water. When new technologies are developed that increase the supply, such as desalinization, they must be compared fairly in order to allow these technologies to develop.

(image: Philippe Molitor)