resource efficiency and the blueprint to safeguard europe’s waters henriette færgemann, dg env...

Resource Efficiency and the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s waters

Resource Efficiency and the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s waters

Henriette Færgemann, DG ENV Water Unit

June 2011

Henriette Færgemann, DG ENV Water Unit

June 2011

2012 Blueprint to safeguard EU Waters:

Nov 2012Blueprint

ToSafeguardEU Waters

Report on 2009River BasinManagement Plans

ReviewWater Scarcity& Droughts Strategy

Climate ChangeVulnerability& Adaptation











Report on 2009River BasinManagement Plans Sustainability

and vulnerability of

EU water resources

« Fitness Check»

Policy Options

Outlook of sustainability and vulnerability of EU water resources

Driving Forces

Pressures

State

Impacts

Responses

EEA 2012 State of Water

Assessment

Scenarios(e.g.

ClimWatAdapt)

Fitness Check

Final report on the adequacy of current water policy to be available end-June 2011

A starting point: Help scoping the issues to be analysed in more detail in the 2nd

semester 2011

Next Steps: Stakeholder and Public Consultation September-November 2011

2nd Stakeholder Workshop December 2011

Fitness Check Report: Spring 2012

Policy Options

Objectives: Fit EU policy to ensure good quality water in sufficient quantities for all legitimate uses.

maximize compliance with WFD objectives, to tackle Water Scarcity and Droughts (WSD) build a robust policy framework to address extreme weather events and the

potential impacts of global changes.

7 key areas. Policy options to be selected on the basis of the IA and presented in the Blueprint.

Land Use Economic Incentives Quantitative water resources use targets Governance Knowledge Base Innovation Global Dimension

Develop a positive role for land-use

Land Use change is one of the main drivers of the degradation of water resources and vulnerability to extreme events.

Identify and analyse natural water retention measures that could be widely implemented at EU level

Reforestation, soil management, sustainable urban drainage systems, floodplain restoration, etc

Define the policy instruments that can accelerate the implementation of those measures.

Guidelines for RBMP Integration into territorial management instruments (CAP, Cohesion

Policy, local planning) Payment for Ecosystem Services

Economic incentives for a more efficient water resources management

Develop a consistent approach for the internalisation of costs from water use and water pollution.

The options to be developed include: More concrete criteria for pricing, taxation, removal of harmful

subsidies, etc.

Setup of water allocation schemes (including tradable permits) in water scarce areas.

Payment for ecosystem services

Certification schemes

Water efficiency targets and measures to protect water resources

Starting point: ClimWatAdapt project Indicators of the water gap in Europe in 2020 or 2050 between water demand and

water availability, combining climate change and socio-economic scenarios

Link with Water and Ecosystem accounts, currently developed by the EEA

The Blueprint will provide indicative water efficiency targets at EU level taking into account the great variety of situations across economic

sectors and geographic areas. Sensitivity analysis: physical/virtual water transfers

Policy Options: Development of targets for water efficiency (and quality improvement) in the MS at

sectoral and river basin level while providing a conceptual framework for robust decision making against uncertainty (e.g. climate change)

Why focus on water efficiency?

Water scarcity & droughts problems are on the increase

Water abstraction expected to increase with 16% by 2030 in a business as usual scenario

The water hierarchy is the basic principle – addressing demand management first

Water efficiency is usually cost-effective when water is correctly priced

Potential for water savings in the EU total: 40% technological improvements alone

further increased by changes in human behaviour & production patterns

Water Supply infrastructure: up to 33% of abstraction

Agriculture: 43% of current agricultural abstraction: Improved efficiency - 15% to 60% of water use.

changes in irrigation practices (30%)

use of more drought-resistant crops (up to 50%)

reuse of treated sewage effluent (around 10%)

Industry: estimated savings 15 - 90% average 43%

Tourism: potential of 80-90% savings

Irrigation of golf courses & sports areas: 70%

Potential for water savings - first indications:

Water Efficiency – building blocks: Water Supply Infrastructure

Estimate water & economic loss + impact Study best practices for minimising water-losses Provide recommendations on the possibilities to reduce losses

Buildings Up to 30% of the volume of water consumed in buildings could be saved Analysis of available information & identification of gaps Identification & analysis of regulatory and non-regulatory options for water performance

requirements for buildings Assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts

Agriculture Options for water savings in agriculture How can agriculture contribute to water savings and to reducing unsustainable water

abstraction Water pricing in agriculture

Industry possibilities for re-use & recycling of waste water further introduction of low-consumption industrial processes how to reduce energy consumption of urban water systems

Governance

The FC will provide a set of specific objectives for improving the governance system stemming from EU water policy

On that basis, and building on the RBMPs assessments, options to be developed will aim at:

Supporting an administrative setup (at both national and trans-boundary level, e.g. enhancing the role of River Basin Authorities)

Improve the efficiency of the implementation (e.g. reporting requirements) while providing the reactive capacity needed to face emerging challenges (e.g. climate change adaptation)

Knowledge base for water policy making

Stronger statistics activity on pressures on water resources

Increased use of satellite and land GMES observations

Enhanced Water Information System for Europe (WISE) to include policy relevant indicators

Development of a roadmap for water research under the next Framework Programme

Innovation

Plans for an Innovation Partnership on Water Efficiency: To identify barriers to innovation in water resource management

and ways to overcome them

The IP is being defined with stakeholders 3 work packages: Urban, Rural and Industry

30-40 Innovation sites to be established across Europe to test innovative solutions (technology, management practices, etc.)

Global aspects

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on access to drinking water and sanitation

Relevant outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference

Supporting integrated water management in developing countries

Trade implications (water footprint)

2012 Blueprint to safeguard EU Waters:

Nov 2012Blueprint

ToSafeguar

dEU

Waters














Report on 2009River BasinManagement Plans Outlook of

sustainability and vulnerability

of EU water resources

« Fitness Check»

EU water policy

instruments

Policy Options

resource efficiency and the blueprint to safeguard europe’s waters henriette færgemann, dg env...

Documents