In response to new findings from the first joint assessment of water resources and climate change impacts in the Neman Basin River, a field trip and seminars will be organized along the Neman River Basin in Belarus and Lithuania from 15 to 19 October 2012. The findings, released last week, project the likely impacts of climate change on the basin and sketch some scenarios for what that will mean for the people and enterprises located there.
Both the report and the week-long meetings are being organized as part of project, “River basin management and climate change adaptation in the Neman River Basin”, which is carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Belarus, implemented under the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC).
According to the new findings, climate change will bring warmer winters and less snow to the Neman Basin. Temperature in the basin is expected to rise by 1.4° C–1.7° C on average within the next 35 years, according to different scenarios of climate change, with a 2.0°C–2.8° C increase in winter and 0.7° C–1.1° C increase in summer. Other probable impacts include increased precipitation in winter, and run-off changes, with an expected increase of winter run-off, decreases in spring and summer run-off, as well as an earlier peak of the dates of spring flood.
The climate changes predicted through the studies carried out within the project (please see the note for editors below for details) will have numerous consequences for the society and economies of the basin countries (Belarus, Lithuania and the Russian Federation (Kaliningrad Region), most notably in terms of the characteristics of surface water quantity and quality. Such changes will affect different water uses, such as drinking and industrial water supply, agriculture, hydropower, recreation and tourism. The expected climate change impacts make stronger cooperation among the riparian countries — something which the project aims to support — more than ever a necessity.
The week-long series will gather together representatives of the ministries of natural resources and environmental protection and the water agencies of Belarus, Lithuania and the Russian Federation, as well as representatives of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), UNDP, ENVSEC, international experts, local authorities and other interested parties.
During the field trip and seminars it is planned to visit monitoring stations in Belarus and Lithuania, hydropower plants, quarries, analytical control laboratories and other water facilities. The main results of the project activities to date will be discussed: climate change scenarios for the Neman River Basin; expected changes in water run-off and in water quality due to climate change; and the monitoring systems and draft Internet platform (database) for sharing information about the state of water resources in the basin. Possible adaptation measures will also be discussed, as well as collaboration with other international projects within the basin and opportunities for further transboundary cooperation of the countries located within it.
Two press conferences for will be organized during the seminars held in Hrodna, Belarus, and Druskininkai, Lithuania:
On 16 October, 10.15–10.45 a.m., in the Conference Hall of RUE “Grodnoenergo”, Molodzezhnaja str., 2, Hrodna.
On 18 October, 10.15–10.45 a.m., in the Conference Hall of the Hotel Grand Spa —Druskininkai, V. Kudirkos str., 43, Druskininkai.
Note to editors:
Model temperature projections for Neman river basin foresee an air temperature rise in the first half of the 21st century. Mean annual air temperature in the basin is expected to rise by 1.4° C–1.7° C according to different climate scenarios, with a 2.0 ° C–2.8° C increase in Winter and 0.7° C–1.1° C increase in Summer. The annual precipitation amount will also likely increase in the Neman basin area. Larger changes are predicted for the first half o