Colloquium “Climate Stress: Nature to the Rescue of Aquatic Environments” in Paris on October 26, 2010

On Monday, October 26, ERN will co-host the meeting “Climate stress: nature to the rescue of aquatic environments” with IPEC (Sub-Directorate for Pedagogical and Collaborative Innovation/ Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning) and the University of Lorraine. Accessible both in person and remotely, registration is free but compulsory.

Information, registration and program: https://catalogue.ifore.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/content/stress-climatique-la-nature-au-secours-des-milieux-aquatiques

Contact and information: Alexis Pasquet-Venzac – alexis.pasquet [at] ern.org

 

 

 

23 companies signed a joint business statement of support for the WFD

23 large companies taking a stand for the EU water law & calling on the EU to uphold it ! Fantastic !

We hope EU Commission will bear this in mind as it finalises its #BiodiversityStrategy.

Euractiv published the announcement of this statement made this morning. The statement is available on Coca-Cola’s website.

“DON’T WATER DOWN THE RULES (Read complet article on euractiv.com)

“Why Europe’s rules on protecting our water are working – and why we should stick with them.

There has never been a greater need for us to protect and restore our freshwater resources in Europe. […] Coca-Cola, as the world’s largest beverage producer, recognizes the need to protect freshwater resources for people, nature and business. It’s why effective water management is one of our key business priorities. […]. That’s why Coca-Cola and two of its biggest bottling partners in Europe (Coca-Cola European Partners and Coca-Cola Hellenic), along with 20 other companies who have signed a joint business statement stand with the 375,000 European citizens who have urged the European Commission – and governments across the EU – to maintain the EU’s Water Framework Directive in its current form. We want to see this Directive kept intact and fully implemented and enforced, as called for by numerous environmental groups through the #ProtectWater campaign. This EU wide law is vital.  It sets a much-needed deadline for us to protect and restore Europe’s freshwater ecosystems by 2027. […] In fact, other countries outside of Europe, including India and China, have been so inspired by the governance model provided by this Directive, they have adopted similar principles when drafting their own legislation. To maintain its credibility globally, the EU cannot and must not change the current legal requirements of the Water Framework Directive.  The rules are working and we should stick with them.

10 Reasons Why Climate Initiatives Should Not Include Large Hydropower Projects

A Civil Society Manifesto for the Support of Real Climate Solutions

Large hydropower projects are often propagated as a “clean and green” source of electricity by international financial institutions, national governments and other actors. They greatly benefit from instruments meant to address climate change, including carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), credits from the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds, and special financial terms from export credit agencies and green bonds. The dam industry advocates for large hydropower projects to be funded by the Green Climate Fund, and many governments boost dams as a response to climate change through national initiatives. For example, at least twelve governments with major hydropower sectors have included an expansion of hydropower generation in their reports on Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

Support from climate initiatives is one of the reasons why more than 3,700 hydropower dams are currently under construction and in the pipeline. Yet large hydropower projects are a false solution to climate change. They should be kept out from national and international climate initiatives for the following reasons:

1. Particularly in tropical regions, hydropower reservoirs emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases….

2. Rivers take about 200 million tons of carbon out of the atmosphere every year…

3. Hydropower dams make water and energy systems more vulnerable to climate change….

4. In contrast to most wind, solar and micro-hydropower projects, dams cause severe and often irreversible damage to critical ecosystems…

5. Large hydropower projects have serious impacts on local communities and often violate the rights of indigenous people…

6. Large hydropower projects are not always an effective tool to expand energy access for poor people…

7. large hydropower projects would be a costly and time-consuming way to address the climate crisis…

8. Unlike wind and solar power, hydropower is no longer an innovative technology…

9. Wind and solar power have become readily available and financially competitive, and have overtaken large hydropower in the addition of new capacity.

10.Hydropower projects currently make up 26% of all projects registered with the CDM, and absorb significant support from other climate initiatives.

For these reasons,  500 organizations from 85 countries call on governments, financiers and other institutions to keep large hydropower projects out of their initiatives to address climate change. All climate and energy solutions need to respect the rights and livelihoods of local communities.

more information on International Rivers Website

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Drought: Iran Cancels 50 Planned Dams

Iranian news is reporting that the country’s Ministry of Energy has canceled 50 planned dams, due to a lack of rainfall.

According to Radio Farda, the head of Iran’s meteorological organization has reported that rainfall has dropped to just 40% of what is normal in 17 provinces in the last two months. Even drier conditions are threatening five Iranian provinces: Qom, South Khorasan, Esfahan, Central and Yazd.

Scientists say that climate change has already led to a 10% drop in rainfall in the country in the last 20 years, and a 1.5 degree increase in average temperatures.

According to Radio Farda, the Ministry of Energy announced that it has made the decision to halt the dam projects, due to an increase in the evaporation of water resources from climate change to 25 billion cubic meters and a 20% decrease in the country’s floods.

A report by the Iran Student News Agency (ISNA) reported earlier this year that climate change is also driving air pollution and the drying of wetlands throughout the country.

source : International Rivers