Mary-Jeanne ADLER, PhD

Director of Emergency Situations Management, Ministry of Environment, Romania

SESSION: MANAGING WATER RELATED RISKS IN CHANGING CLIMATE

Climate change threats :Climate change threats :

The principal features of the climate scenarios, despite The principal features of the climate scenarios, despite uncertainties, are sufficiently robust to be used as a basis for uncertainties, are sufficiently robust to be used as a basis for improving disaster response mechanism, considering:improving disaster response mechanism, considering:

1.1. TheThe risk of floods, landslides and erosion in many areas risk of floods, landslides and erosion in many areas is increasingis increasing to such an extent that stronger initiatives to such an extent that stronger initiatives for preventive measures are justified. A government for preventive measures are justified. A government climate adaptation appropriation should be established climate adaptation appropriation should be established in support of large scale costly initiatives and of in support of large scale costly initiatives and of regional-continental plan of measures.regional-continental plan of measures.

2.2. The warmer climate will affect health and lead to more The warmer climate will affect health and lead to more deaths due to deaths due to heat wavesheat waves and increased spread of and increased spread of infection.infection.

3.3. There will be an There will be an adverse impact on water qualityadverse impact on water quality in in lakes and watercourses, which will make efforts to lakes and watercourses, which will make efforts to maintain good drinking-water quality necessary.maintain good drinking-water quality necessary.

Reduction of the climate change impactReduction of the climate change impact

The reduction – avoidance and limitation– of The reduction – avoidance and limitation– of unacceptable climate impacts on individuals unacceptable climate impacts on individuals and societies can be achieved by: and societies can be achieved by: reducing the hazardsreducing the hazards associated with associated with

climatic change (‘climate hazards’) and climatic change (‘climate hazards’) and lowering the vulnerabilitylowering the vulnerability of the individuals of the individuals

and societies in question. and societies in question.

FCCC and Disaster Response PlatformFCCC and Disaster Response Platform

Since the adoption of the Since the adoption of the UN Framework Convention for UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (FCCC)Climate Change (FCCC) in 1992, the issue of reducing in 1992, the issue of reducing potential climate hazards through emission mitigation has potential climate hazards through emission mitigation has figured prominently in the multilateral negotiations, figured prominently in the multilateral negotiations, culminating in the culminating in the Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol and its operationalisation and its operationalisation in the in the Marrakech AccordsMarrakech Accords. .

the UN General Assembly gave its support to an emerging the UN General Assembly gave its support to an emerging consensus in disaster management that is ‘measures consensus in disaster management that is ‘measures designed to avoid (prevention) or limit (disaster impact designed to avoid (prevention) or limit (disaster impact mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impact of natural mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impact of natural hazards’ by creating an hazards’ by creating an International Strategy for International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Disaster Reduction

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction :International Strategy for Disaster Reduction :

The international and countries administrative The international and countries administrative boards should be given a key role in climate boards should be given a key role in climate adaptation efforts. adaptation efforts. A special climate adaptation A special climate adaptation panelpanel should be established at each should be established at each regional/county administrative board, to provide regional/county administrative board, to provide enhanced support for the municipalities in enhanced support for the municipalities in particular.particular.

Disaster response should be enhanced, as a Disaster response should be enhanced, as a result of extremes events will hit regionsresult of extremes events will hit regions

UN-OCHAUN-OCHA

Making more effective the collective efforts of the international Making more effective the collective efforts of the international community, in particular the United Nations system, in community, in particular the United Nations system, in providing humanitarian assistance was appointed a providing humanitarian assistance was appointed a Disaster Disaster Relief Co-ordinatorRelief Co-ordinator at the Under-Secretary-General (USG) at the Under-Secretary-General (USG) level ‘to mobilize, direct and co-ordinate the relief activities of level ‘to mobilize, direct and co-ordinate the relief activities of the various organizations of the United Nations system.’ the various organizations of the United Nations system.’

In 1998, the General Assembly created the In 1998, the General Assembly created the Office for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) caring out ’ (OCHA) caring out the institutional reform programme, a complementary reform the institutional reform programme, a complementary reform of the piece-meal voluntary funding mechanisms and the of the piece-meal voluntary funding mechanisms and the concomitant co-ordination between governments and aid concomitant co-ordination between governments and aid agencies. agencies.

UN – EU collaborationUN – EU collaboration

the EU humanitarian aid and civil protection the EU humanitarian aid and civil protection assistance provided to third countriesassistance provided to third countries should always be needs-based and in accordance should always be needs-based and in accordance with fundamental humanitarian principles of with fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, in line with the MCDA6 and Oslo guidelines7 and in line with the MCDA6 and Oslo guidelines7 and consistent with existing international response consistent with existing international response mechanisms, with the United Nations, and in mechanisms, with the United Nations, and in particular UN OCHA, in the central and overall particular UN OCHA, in the central and overall coordinating rolecoordinating role

EU Civil Protection MechanismEU Civil Protection Mechanism establishment in 2007 of an improved civil protection legal establishment in 2007 of an improved civil protection legal

framework, which includes the framework, which includes the Civil Protection Financial Civil Protection Financial InstrumentInstrument and the and the Community Civil Protection Community Civil Protection MechanismMechanism, and the joint statement in 2007 on the , and the joint statement in 2007 on the European European Consensus on Humanitarian AidConsensus on Humanitarian Aid form the basis for form the basis for Disaster Response MechanismDisaster Response Mechanism at the EU level at the EU level

16 June 2008, Luxembourg - Council of the European Union 16 June 2008, Luxembourg - Council of the European Union 2878th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting Conclusions on 2878th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting Conclusions on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response CapacityReinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity - towards an integrated approach to managing disasters and the - towards an integrated approach to managing disasters and the use of the whole range of relevant instruments of the European use of the whole range of relevant instruments of the European Union - a balanced approach Union - a balanced approach guided by two principlesguided by two principles: : national national responsibilityresponsibility, whereby each Member State takes appropriate , whereby each Member State takes appropriate preventive and operational measures for the protection and safety preventive and operational measures for the protection and safety of people, the environment and property, and of people, the environment and property, and EU solidarityEU solidarity, which , which is the basis for the provision of assistance rendered on request to is the basis for the provision of assistance rendered on request to Member States and third countries and their people, when Member States and third countries and their people, when affected by a disaster that exceeds their response capacity.affected by a disaster that exceeds their response capacity.

Risk can be reduced:Risk can be reduced: at the national levelat the national level by establishing by establishing links between links between

international early warning systemsinternational early warning systems such as the such as the Global Global Disaster Alert and CoordinationDisaster Alert and Coordination system (GDACS) and system (GDACS) and national disaster management agencies, with the aim of national disaster management agencies, with the aim of speeding up decision-making and factoring early warning speeding up decision-making and factoring early warning systems into contingency planning and public awareness, systems into contingency planning and public awareness, education and training programmes. education and training programmes.

by ensuring the participation of disaster-prone countries by ensuring the participation of disaster-prone countries and responding countries in and responding countries in international response international response networksnetworks such as such as UN Disaster Assessment and UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination teamCoordination team (UNDAC), the (UNDAC), the International International Search and Rescue Advisory GroupSearch and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and (INSARAG) and the the Environmental Emergencies networkEnvironmental Emergencies network. .

Enhancing national and regional skillsEnhancing national and regional skills and developing and developing national standards in this way reduces overall risk. national standards in this way reduces overall risk.

Regional Level (Danube Basin) Disaster Regional Level (Danube Basin) Disaster Response MechanismResponse Mechanism

A special challenge is posed to flood and spill management and A special challenge is posed to flood and spill management and disaster reduction and response in shared river basins as Danube disaster reduction and response in shared river basins as Danube Basin- regional cooperation is needed, under the coordination of Basin- regional cooperation is needed, under the coordination of ICPDR. ICPDR.

Sharing data and information related to hydro-meteorological Sharing data and information related to hydro-meteorological data, weather forecasts (European Centre of WMO), hydrological data, weather forecasts (European Centre of WMO), hydrological forecasts (JRC-EFAS), reservoir operation as well as major forecasts (JRC-EFAS), reservoir operation as well as major changes in land use and water use management are important changes in land use and water use management are important steps to improving flood disaster reduction and response of steps to improving flood disaster reduction and response of riparian countries in shared river basins.riparian countries in shared river basins.

PIAC monitoring and warning system for spills supports the PIAC monitoring and warning system for spills supports the ICPDR AEWS at the basin levelICPDR AEWS at the basin level

Consideration should also be given to regional training Consideration should also be given to regional training programmes and disaster assistance.programmes and disaster assistance.

Disaster Response MechanismDisaster Response Mechanism::

In order to plan Response Mechanism for regions and In order to plan Response Mechanism for regions and countries, the lessons learnt from past experiences were countries, the lessons learnt from past experiences were taken into account, identifying the taken into account, identifying the common element of common element of responseresponse..

DRM has DRM has a multi-hazard approacha multi-hazard approach and incorporates the and incorporates the ‘Culture of Quick Response’.‘Culture of Quick Response’.

Acting based a trigger mechanismsActing based a trigger mechanisms that identify the that identify the sequence of events after a disaster and the L concept that sequence of events after a disaster and the L concept that identifies four levels of response, namely L0, L1, L2, L3identifies four levels of response, namely L0, L1, L2, L3

maintain close monitoring of L2 as well as L1 disasters that have maintain close monitoring of L2 as well as L1 disasters that have occurred all over the world;occurred all over the world;

plays a supportive role to State governments for L3 level of plays a supportive role to State governments for L3 level of disasters by the Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism.disasters by the Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism.

MONITORING, SURVEY

Forward Survey & Early Warning Regional Logistic Support

LOGISTIC SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

National Emergency Management System

RegionalNeeds

Reaction SystemsLevel

(feed-back)

Interministerial LEVEL

Disaster Response Mechanism (DRM) Dual-use, Mission Critical, Transborder Actions

NationalStrategy

Integration

Integration

+

Meteorological Information System

National Disaster Management System

Pollution Monitoring SystemWater Disaster Monitoring System

Disaster Response Mechanism International

LEVEL

Coordination between agencies for emergency system organization

Coordination between agencies for emergency system organization

Action Commander

Operative centers for emergency

Emergency Committee

Public emergency

services and technical team for intervention

General Inspectorate for

Emergency

Expected results:Expected results: Improves ability to respond to emergency situations Improves ability to respond to emergency situations

(floods & spills)(floods & spills)• Improving warning systemImproving warning system

• Improving dam management and maintenance Improving dam management and maintenance

• Optimizing flood control structuresOptimizing flood control structures

• Installing alarm system and sirens Installing alarm system and sirens

• Bringing adequate intervention and remedial equipmentBringing adequate intervention and remedial equipment

Increases efficiency of water allocation and useIncreases efficiency of water allocation and use Improves environmental health and ecosystem Improves environmental health and ecosystem

integrityintegrity

Strengthening of organizational structure of disaster Strengthening of organizational structure of disaster management and reorienting existing organizational management and reorienting existing organizational and administrative structuresand administrative structures

Water Crisis Water Crisis Management in Management in

RomaniaRomania

2.Expert System-DSS

5.Rapid Response Centers

DRM National PlatformDRM National Platform

WATMAN automated stations

1.Informational System for

Water Management

4.Warning System

3.Communication System

4.Alarming System

WARNING SYSTEMWARNING SYSTEM

PREPARATION

INTERVENTION

REHABILITATION

SIRENS ANDCOMMUNICATIONS

R.R.C.LOSS EVALUATION

INSTRUMENTS

Risk mapping

DecisionSupportSystem

Data Measurement

Precipitation, Temperature, Humidity, StreamflowWater Quality, Groundwater, Snow pack,

Evapotranspiration

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Data Processing &

Archiving

Data baseData modelData display

Analysis

Rainfall/runoff, Flooding, Hydraulics, Water Allocation,

Water Pollution, Environmental Flows

Decision Making

MC&DMOperating rulesExpert systemOptimization, WarningsRisk management, Dispute Resolution

Decision Implementation

Infrastructure control, Institutional policies & incentivesWarnings, Alarms

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

Primary dataprocessing software

for databaseachievementDecoding&transmission

software

Op

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tio

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ap

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of

math

em

ati

cal

mo

de

ls

Vulnerabilitymap

Flood hazardmap

Hy

dra

ulic

Mo

del

De

sig

n f

loo

d M

od

els

Qd

F C

em

ag

ref

Mo

de

l N

IMH

Mo

de

l

Math

em

atic

al m

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el

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lop

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Existing land cover/land use situation

Social &environment issues

Existinghydrometeorological

system

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tom

ati

sa

tio

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f s

tati

on

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Info

rma

tion

al

sy

ste

mo

ptim

isa

tion

Topographic& geodeticallevelling

GIS / DTM

Satelliteimages

RISKMAP

DECISION MAKING SUPPORTSYSTEM

FLOODWARNING &

FORECASTING

Partners field measuring, plans

and maps and remote sensing

(lidar, laser scanning, satellite) -

sharing data

Danube, Tisa, Prut… cross sections measurement

campaigns and up-dating after each

large flood

Dissemination of data and warnings Dissemination of data and warnings - a- automatutomatee mapping of flooding areasmapping of flooding areas

Index gestion (using indices and thematic

plans) of documents and reports

Using a new interoperable processUsing a new interoperable process Integration and dissemination of the local, county, regional/basin, Integration and dissemination of the local, county, regional/basin,

national and stability pact partners datanational and stability pact partners data

Spatial ETLSpatial ETL TransformationTransformation ConversionConversion IntegrationIntegration

Data Base Data Base and Serverand Server

DataDataand Servicesand Services

Data setsData sets• Local administration Local administration • County-prefecturaCounty-prefectura• Basin/RegionalBasin/Regional• CommercialCommercial

Data sets on DVDData sets on DVD

Thematic DataThematic Data

Data model

Multi user System ImplementationMulti user System Implementation

Selection of destinations

Line ISDNData baseData base

Dissemination of data and warningsDissemination of data and warnings :

calling the implicated persons/ answering 112calling the implicated persons/ answering 112

More then More then 3030 simultaneous simultaneous pre-registered pre-registered messagesmessages

Call Center

Server

Calling confirmation

Warning populationWarning population,,

Warning by mapping products,Warning by mapping products,

Intervention decisionIntervention decision

Data dissemination using Web pageData dissemination using Web page GISGIS PortalPortal

Support for site design and Support for site design and integration with GIS products integration with GIS products

and servicesand services

Activities of inspection Activities of inspection and rapid interventionand rapid intervention

(experts data base)(experts data base)

Planning/preparing actions (modeled scenarios)Planning/preparing actions (modeled scenarios)Training personal Training personal Adequate equipment Adequate equipment Warning/alarming Systems interconnected at the Warning/alarming Systems interconnected at the regional levelregional level

Inspection and rapid Inspection and rapid intervention assumeintervention assume::

RRC Centers actions and technical support activities

Rapid and qualified intervention – saving live