Dialogue for Climate Change Adaptation for Land and Water Management

Messages from the Hanoi Workshop. January 19-21, 2009.

Comprehensive approach
Effective adaptation for land and water requires different approaches within a comprehensive, integrated framework, where bottom-up meets top-down—from community-based adaptation in the villages to the basin, national and trans-boundary levels. Adaptation planning and implementation must be undertaken in a manner that takes into consideration other significant drivers of change (e.g. food, energy, finance, markets). High priority need to be given to policies and actions which promote synergies between adaptation, food security, poverty reduction and environmental protection. The full breadth of adaptation measures should be introduced, including both soft and hard solutions.

Knowledge and information sharing
The information that is currently available through global climate impact models needs to be refined to better support national and local actions to adapt to climate change within land and water management. There is a need to focus on the development of knowledge and information on climate impacts, vulnerability and good practices. This includes real-time data sharing for early warning. Recognizing such information as a public good, it needs to be shared at and between all levels, from local to trans-boundary, in a transparent manner, and in a way that it can be understood by all stakeholders and be applied for decision-making.

Economics and financing
Decision-making for adaptation needs to take into account the cost of inaction and ensure the economic viability of adaptation actions. Financial resources should be prioritized towards meeting the needs of groups that are more exposed and have less capacity to adapt. Sound agricultural and other land and water management practices that provide mitigation and/or adaptation benefits should be eligible for financial support through a variety of transparent mechanisms. Financing should be provided for improving adaptive capacity for adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Focus on resilience
Recognizing the uncertainties associated with climate change, there is a need to focus on no regrets investments, and for introducing adaptation and mitigation measures that consider and promote the resilience of ecosystems and of the livelihoods of people who depend on them. Building resilience to climate change calls for a reversal of the trend towards monoculture and an increased emphasis on diversification in agriculture. Building resilience includes dealing with floods and droughts, now and in a future of expected acceleration of extreme events. It also calls for increasing water storage capacity in all forms, from local restoration of groundwater sources and rainwater harvesting to the establishment of dams.