Experts share experiences on protecting water sources amid climate change
Lester Kok Straits Times 3 Jul 10;
RIVERS and deltas have to be managed properly if they are to continue being a source of fresh water and serving as waterways for transport, said guest speakers at the Singapore International Water Week.
At the first River Basin and Delta Management Workshop held at the Suntec convention centre, eight speakers who have managed water issues in their respective countries shared their experiences, including the difficulties they faced and the solutions.
Climate change is causing higher average temperatures, raising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns. To make matters worse, rivers and their surrounding land are deteriorating due to unchecked usage of these resources for freshwater supply, hydro power and irrigation.
Mr Tan Yong Soon, permanent secretary (National Climate Change) in the Prime Minister's Office, who spoke at the conference as the guest of honour, said rivers are relied on for various purposes such as water supply, transport and recreation.
'But at the same time, river basins are coming under the strain of economic development, population growth and rapid urbanisation as more stakeholders' groups seek to tap this resource,' he said.
To ensure the sustainability of water as a resource, he added, integrated management of water is needed, which includes managing water sources such as waste water, river basins and deltas.
According to a climate change report in 2007, 60 per cent of the world's population lives within 100km of the sea, which means that global warming and rising sea levels are a threat.
A common problem for many countries are floods, which can kill thousands of people and destroy buildings.
Among those who spoke on the methods of curbing floods was Professor Gerry Galloway of the University of Maryland's Institute of Water Resources, formerly the presidential appointee to the Mississippi River Commission.
He spoke about how the Mississippi River was the main waterway for transport in the early years of the United States, and how floods have pushed the people and the government towards building protective measures such as dykes, dams, levees and floodways.
Other measures include lakes that are used for flood control and can also be used for recreational activities, generating revenue and becoming a source of income for some states.
In the panel discussion, the speakers were asked about the key to success in adapting river basins and deltas to deal with climate change.
Prof Galloway said the key to managing the Mississippi River was the political will, which came from the engagement of people by bringing more of them to the table to discuss the issue.
'Technology in the 21st century is enabling that engagement, and the combination of engagement with the capacity to do it will build the political will necessary to find the funds and take on the other issues,' he said.
Other speakers also agreed that although ecological disasters like floods will help to rally support to address climate change issues, communication with the public is very important as well.
Mr Wim Kuijken, government commissioner for the Delta Programme in the Netherlands, felt that the key factors for success were leadership and transparency.
'Everybody knows that the climate is changing. You have to be, in my opinion, very honest, and also honest about uncertainties,' he said.
'I think the best way to do this is to handle these uncertainties, prepare people for the big decisions to be made.'
Mr Mitja Bricelj, president of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, which runs through 19 countries in Europe, said political awareness and open dialogues were the main reasons for his commission's success.
Other solutions include using water to make cities more attractive, termed as 'turning threats into opportunities' by Mr Arnoud Molenaar, programme manager of the Rotterdam Climate Proof Programme in the Netherlands.
He said that since floods are inevitable in today's climate of sudden and heavy rain, Rotterdam built emergency flood basins that also function as a civic area for people to enjoy when the weather is dry, as it is most of the time.
The Dutch way of combating climate change
Straits Times 3 Jul 10;
MR WIM Kuijken is the first government commissioner for the Delta Programme in the Netherlands, which has an annual budget of €1 billion (S$1.7 billion) to combat climate change and its consequences.
Solutions suggested by the programme include taking sand from the bottom of the North Sea to supplement shorelines, in order to minimise the impact of rising sea levels. LESTER KOK speaks to him.
# Why did the Netherlands choose sand top-ups over man-made barriers?
'We think... it is sustainable and better than making high rigid dykes. By using sand, you make nature, space, and you defend yourself. We can, for centuries, follow this strategy because even when sea levels rise 4m or 5m, we can handle this because we bring out the sea... it's also an attraction factor for our economy.'
# How do we climate-proof urban cities such as Singapore and Rotterdam?
'Cities like Singapore will get more heat-stressed. You have to find solutions. And in the Netherlands, the Rotterdam area for instance, we tried to make areas where water from heavy rainfall can go. Normally they are children's playgrounds, but they can be adapted to work. Green roofs - you do it on a large scale, on your high buildings. They can absorb water and cope with the heat, so we try also in cities to find ways to work with water.'
# What do you think about Singapore and our efforts in dealing with climate change?
'As you know, the Netherlands and Singapore have very strong relations. We both are urbanised... dependent on water, and (similar in) the way we work with water. It is very interesting for me to see how this partnership between our knowledge institutes can be strengthened, as we cannot solve this problem alone in Europe. We have to find partners in Asia, as it is crucial to find out what to do in future, so we learn from each other.'
# Why is the term of a Delta Commissioner seven years instead of the typical four years for a ministerial position?
'The politicians said: 'We want somebody close to the government, but not working on short-term politics, but on the country's long-term future'. Our country is 60 per cent susceptible to floods. In those parts, we earn two-thirds of our gross national product. There are nine million people who live in those areas, so it is something to defend. Long-term politics beats short-term. It gives confidence to people and businesses.'
# Why is there a large annual budget on the Delta Programme?
'It is so that we can make reservations in the fund, to pay for the very expensive decisions, for barriers or dykes. It is a kind of insurance premium for the future. We have a gross domestic product of about €600 billion, and €1,500 billion as capital in the western part of our country to defend, so it is a relatively small sum.'
