RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

In the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Common Implementation Strategy, an activity on Climate Change and Water was initiated in 2007 to produce guidance on how Member States should incorporate consideration of climate variability and change into the implementation of EU water policy. In 2008, the Water Directors discussed and agreed key policy messages on Climate Change and Water. These focused on the following topics: a) EU water legislation and its ability to allow and support adaptation to climate change; b) The importance of integration with other policies; c) WFD and objective-setting under a changing climate; d) How adaptation is addressed in the 1st River Basin Management Planning; e) The role of adaptation in the 2nd and 3rd river basin management cycles. This EU guidance builds upon these policy messages and is a mentioned as a priority action in the EC's White Paper on Adapting to Climate Change (2009). It has been discussed with a wide range of stakeholders and experts in the framework of the Common Implementation Strategy, and it reflects the important role of water managers in adapting to climate change. This guidance intends to give support to river basin managers in incorporating climate change in the next river basin management cycles.