Climate Change Impacts On Water Resources Environmental Sciences Essay

humor Change Impacts On wet Resources surroundingsal Sciences watchScientific records and thrustions prove the elevated risk of penetrable fresh body of pissing resources organism harshly impacted by temper lurch, with grand resulting cause, especially for clear Islands developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius. adaption measures to respond to those climatic impacts on wet would require an integrated water supply supply resources management which includes obtaining the perception of the societys down the stairsstanding of the aftermath. This wallpaper aims at analysing the perception of a category of the Mauritanian society, namely the workss military force, with regard to aw beness as well as understand of temper win over and its impacts on water resources. The results of the study show that the educational take aim of respondents has an impact on both their aw beness and understanding of modality diversity and the negative effects it has on our water res ources. Those findings fucking be of patron to policy-makers engaged in the effective selection and imposeation of realistic and leaded water-related adaption measures all by egress the island.Keywords modality Change Impacts, Adaptation, Water Resources, Small Islands Developing States, Public Perception, Educational Level.Introduction humour Change, its Impacts and the Global Response clime miscellanea is viewed by natural scientists as perhaps the preeminent environmental risk confronting the world in the 21st century (Leiserowitz, 2007) and the most debated environmental issue in the political ecology field in the depart two decades (Whitanage, et al., 2009). The key source of global melt is ecumenicly viewed as be an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with resulting greenho single-valued function effect (Yadollahie, 2010). there is much scientific proof of occurrence of considerable global warming, and juvenile warming, which has already brought al terations in the earths mood, can be attributed to human activities, according to the royal Society (2005). The undeniable responsibility of human activities in this matter has since 1992 been evince by the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) when defining mood salmagundi as a tack of mood which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the formation of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural mood disagreement observed over comparable time periods (UNFCCC, 1992). This analysis is championed by Rosenzweig, et al., (2007) who claim that the consistency of observed significant changes in physical and biological systems and observed significant warming across the globe very in all likelihood can non be explained entirely by natural variability or another(prenominal) confounding non- modality factors.The Royal Society (2005) emphasizes that though confounded mode changes depart generate both favourable and a dverse effects in sundry(a) sectors ranging from agriculture to human health, larger and faster the changes in modality, the more(prenominal) probable it is that adverse effects entrust dominate. A persistent the same line, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides scientific evidence of strong effects of late(a) mode change on many aspects of both natural and managed systems, with sequential changes in some(prenominal) aras including coastal z unrivaleds (Rosenzweig, et al., 2007). The IPCC (2007) further explains that projected changes will be in climate variables such as precipitation, temperature, sea level and concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and emphasizes that impacts of those changes would be felt mainly on coastal systems and low beas, health, freshwater resources and their management, ecosystems, industry, settlement and society, food, fibre and forest products (IPCC., 2007).Signed in 1992 by virtually all nations of the world as a response to the issue that increase the levels of greenhouse shove alonges are being ca apply by human activities, the UNFCCC treaty is referred to as being the first agreement to address climate change, with loads to exhibit field of study action plans for voluntary reduction of greenhouse gas rises to hold levels, as a start to global warming mitigation (Fletcher and Parker, 2007). referable to the fact that several countries were not being able to condense their gas emissions, the parties to the UNFCCC treaty moved from voluntary measures to the Kyoto protocol, which establishes legally binding, mandatory emissions reductions (Fletcher Parker, 2007), relevant to 38 develop countries listed in the protocol as Annex 1. The Kyoto protocol, which has been agreed to towards the dying of 1997 and has entered into force in February 2005, has been signed and ratified by 187 nations as at November 2009 (UNFCCC, 2009), including more than sixty percent of the developed count ries listed at its Annex 1.Those developed countries that have ratified the treaty are bound to implement subject field measures to lessen their greenhouse gas emissions in addition to making use of three market-based mechanisms introduced in the Kyoto protocol, namely, Inter topic Emissions Trading, the Clean exploitation Mechanism, and Joint death penalty (Bashmakov, et al., 2001).International Emissions Trading implies that signatory Annex 1 countries can passel part of agreed emission quotas among themselves, while in the Clean Development Mechanism, Annex 1 countries can help develop reduced emissions projects deep down Non Annex 1 countries, explicitly developing countries, to help them attain sustainable evolution and in return, the helping countries beneficiate from the so generated certified emission reductions. With regard to Joint Implementation, Annex I countries can help to implement reduced emissions project in another Annex I estate and thus receive emission r eduction units, which can be used by the investor countries to attain the required limitation of emissions (Bashmakov, et al.2001).The Kyoto protocol is seen as a political and a technical failure as well as a symbolically important expression of concern ab appear climate change (Prins and Rayner, 2008), and since the Kyoto Protocol regime expires in 2012, there might be in their point of view only a slender windowpane of opportunity to radically rethink our objectives and operations (Prins Rayner, 2007). Further to the end of the commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the latest Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC held in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009, include on its agenda a discussion on an international climate agreement, with the Copenhagen Accord as step to the forecome. Though consensus has not been reached at that Copenhagen Summit or COP15, with the Accord being finally not take, it is believed that only the future will tell whether that Accord would evolv e into a subsequent agreement or arrangement that is sufficiently robust to motivate meaningful action on climate change (Stavins Stowe, 2010). The above cited view is nevertheless not shared out by Yadollahie (2010) as he deems the result of the Copenhagen Summit to be disappointing, believe that no significant step has been made, and considers that the whole world straight off looks preliminary to the new COP to be held in Mexico at the end of 2010.Impacts of Climate Change on Water ResourcesThere are a beneficial deal of scientific records and climate projections to prove the elevated risk of vulnerable water resources being harshly impacted by climate change, with considerable resulting effects. The researchers of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) go further stating that the negative impacts, such as salinisation of coastal aquifers, droughts and floods affecting water quality and exasperating water pollution, are expected to outweigh the benefits (Bates , et al., 2008).The Need for AdaptationTo struggle climate change, the UNFCCC (1992) recommends mitigation, with measures to lessen human activities that generate green house gases, and fitting, which tries to reduce vulnerability to impacts of climate change. Mitigation only is depleted and thus adaption is essential given that even if action is being taken now to considerably reduce greenhouse gases, the climate system generally reacts lento to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations, with further changes in climate being consequently unavoidable (Royalsociety.org, 2005). Stavins and Stowe (2010) highlight the introduction in the Copenhagen Accord of the indispensableness for developed countries to provide financial and other resources to support variation actions in least developed countries, including small islands.Concerning interlingual rendition in regard to the water resources, an integrated water resources management, though still in its early yrs, is recommended b y Bates et al.(2008) as a tool in seeking adaptation measures, affair to reshaping planning processes and the inclusion of the societys views as some of the strategies to ensure effectuation success.Climate Change and SIDSSmall island developing States (SIDS), of which Mauritius is a member, have many problems and specific characteristics that increase their vulnerability, resulting in a situation where adverse effects of climate change and sea-level rise represent the most warm threats regarding sustainable development (UNDP, 2009). Mauritius is about to experience substantial economic loss, humane stresses and environmental degradation due to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, increasing temperatures, an increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones and progressively variable rainfall (UNDP, n.d.) with important sectors most likely to be bear upon by climate change impacts being coastal resources, agriculture, water resources, fisheries, health, biodiversity, l and-use change and forestry. Bates, et al (2008) further observe that under most climate change scenarios, water resources in small islands are likely to be in earnest compromised.As a reaction to this critical situation which SIDS are facing, a number of adaptation projects are being implemented, the main one being the National adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) executed by UN agencies (Graham, 2007).There are also other projects supported by financial institutions and other development tending agencies. Adaptation woos are very high and are financed for instance by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund, which is recognize by the UNFCCC (2005) as being One of the principal channels of support for small island developing States (SIDS) in the area of climate change. Some more sources of funding are the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) whereby Adaptation activities to address the adverse effects of climate change have carousel priority for funding, the Least Dev eloped Countries Fund (LDCF), and The Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol, for financing adaptation projects in developing countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (Graham, 2007). legion(predicate) SIDS have already submitted their NAPA documents to the UNFCCC, wherein the water resources sector is of major(ip) grandness. Those NAPA documents propose adaptation measures as followsImprove water harnessing, show and storage infrastructures by building reservoirs and dams, encouraging use of individual water-saving devices and promoting unspoilt rainwater harvesting finished ground catchment and roof catchment systems,Elaboration of decentralise management plans on water production and distribution infrastructures,Elaboration and effectuation of legislation and regulation,Design and construction of suitable sewage treatment and garbage disposal systems to safeguard water resources,Establishing modeling maps and an information and monitoring system on water resources, Institutionalization of management system, with the purpose of putting in practice the national politics of the water resources,Reducing leakage in supply systems,Carrying out participatory research on the knowledge of traditional practices of adaptation to the variations of the water cycle.The above list of measures extracted from the UNFCCC database (UNFCCC, 2010a, b, c, d) can be used as a model for proposals of adaptation measures in Mauritius. Regardless of the broad range of adaptation options that could be luckyly implemented in the SIDS, some fundamental constraints, categorized by the UNFCCC (2005) in three groups, limit the choices of options and their implementation. These constraints are specificallyinsufficient data or information and technical capacity for well-timed and successful adaptation planning, as a starting point for the design of adaptation policies, strategies and programmesthe weakness of certain institutions which have to be strengthened for effective im plementation of adaptation measures andinsufficient financial resources which will necessitate international assistance with regard to research on less costly adaptation measures (UNFCCC, 2005).Maladaptation, caused by governments underestimating, overestimating or mis-estimating the climate impact (Graham, 2007), is also interpreted as a factor delaying the adaptation process.Climate change, adaptation, and water resources management in MauritiusIn Mauritius, the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities is responsible for implementation of water resources policies, and other organisations operating(a) in the water sector are the Water Resources Unit, the Central Water Authority, the Irrigation Authority and the Waste Water Management Authority, each of them having specific responsibilities be by existing Mauritian laws regarding water resources (Proag, 2006).The impacts of climate change are already being felt in the island, as evidenced by the recent National Assessment Report pre pared by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development when it reveals that meteorological records clearly indicate the increase of clean temperatures, rising sea levels, intermittent heavy rainfall causing pretentiousness floods and climate variability that deviate from past patterns. (ROM, 2010). Mauritian water resources are vulnerable to climate change impacts, whereby one example is the risk make pass by boreholes situated near the Mauritian coasts of being contaminated by saltwater intrusion (UNFCCC, 2005).In line with the pledge of the Mauritian regime in its 2010-2015 programme (2010) regarding climate change, the UNDP is currently implementing a two year project under the Africa Adaptation Program (AAP), aiming at integrating and mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the institutional framework, development policy, strategies and plans of the island. An output of the project is the implementation of climate-resilient policies and measures in priority se ctors, inclusive of the water sector (UNDP, n.d.). Accordingly, a working group under the chairmanship of the Water Resources Unit has been set up at the level of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, to look into the issue and come up with appropriate policies and measures that integrate climate change adaptation. The Maurice Ile Durable (MID) concept, a national project for sustainable development, also recognizes the negative impact of climate change on our water resources and recommends that the MID initiative should serve to increase the set of Mauritius to adapt to climate change as far as attainable (UNDP, 2009).Since 2005, several assessments have been conducted to call appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation measures which are currently being implemented or in the pipeline (ROM, 2010). The report lists concrete climate related actions that have been or are being taken in the field of enhancement of climate change and sea level rise monitor ingreduction of GHG emissions through energy efficiency and conservation as well as renewable energy investments andadaptation projects in the following sectorsAgricultural sector,Commissioning of Midlands dekameter for irrigation of the northern plains.Cultivation of drought resistant cultivars and trash blanketing of sugarcane fields. investiture in hydroponics, protected cultures.Improved livestock housing.Coastal zone discharge use change and forestry andWater resources sectora. An integrated plan for water resources development up to year 2040 has been prepared.b. Surface water storage has been increase and new projects in pipeline include construction of dams at frippery and Rivire des Anguilles.c. Existing storage dams and feeder/irrigation canals have been rehabilitated to derogate seepage losses.d. Capacity of potable water treatment plants has been extended.Ongoing familiar ken campaigns on water saving.The report also highlights the emphasis that the Mauritian Governm ent has laid on sensitization and cognizance raising of the general ordinary, through holding of unceasing sensitization and awareness campaigns for various target groups , as well as the publication of resource materials and broadcasting of regular programmes on television and radio.Apart from the State, non-governmental projects are also carried out, such as one project funded by GEF Small Grants Programme for period 2005-2006 and carried out by Environmental Protection Conservation Organisation (EPCO) in coastal villages, with the aim of raising awareness about climate change intuition and working with local community to understand the impact of climate change, to identify vulnerability, prepare and implement adaptation plan (GEF, 2006). The implementation of the above project included a vulnerability assessment exercise in 4 coastal villages whereby water scarcity was identified as a key element affecting livelihood (World Water Forum, WWF, 2009). Another aim of the projec t was to secure break quality and quantity of water in these villages, through education and training, awareness and preparedness as well as community-participation (WWF, 2009).One of the several findings of the project is that the public should be encouraged to change lifestyle so as to minimize utilization of water (WWF, 2009).Public perception as a tool for effective implementation of adaptation measuresUnderstanding public perception is a key element in raising awareness and motivating behavioral changes in the population (Breton, et al., 2008). Lorenzoni and Pidgeon (2006, cited in Sola, et al., 2008), further take a firm stand on the fact that To ignore the values and attitudes of the public when decision making on the management of climate risk may lead to problematic situations.Globally, the study of public perception on climate change is of major importance nowadays. International studies mention that majorities believe that the worlds climate is changing (Poortinga, et al., 2006) and citizens concern for climate change is growing (Leiserowitz, 2007). A study of public perceptions on climate change and adaptation in Sri Lanka even concludes that keeping local communities out of climate business will create unnecessary damage (Whitanage, et al., 2009).At local level, some studies have been carried out involving public perception in the water resources sector. Focusing on the perception of Mauritians towards domestic water as a product of consumption, Sowdagur (2006) finds that a great majority of Mauritians are not willing to pay more and thus recommends that this fact be considered when deciding on water tariff policies. The study carried out by Madhoo (2006) estimates the budgetary impact of higher willingness to pay for residential water and demonstrates that as long as lower prices are allocated to low income groups, it would be politically executable to charge higher prices, while in his works on awareness of water distribution costs, Proag (2 007) concludes that not knowing the basic factors involved in producing and distributing water leads to people having a wrong perception about its cost and value.The parting of education in climate change awareness and understandingWith regard to environmental education, Potter (2010) believes that it is a critical tool for pleasing the public, especially with the recent and strong focus on global warming and climate change. He thus suggests that new and more systemic environmental education legislation might be considered, together with substantive increases in funding for national-level grants, educator training, and research initiatives and broadening the scope of strategic-level conversations to include sectors beyond the education community.A study carried out at the Rice University in USA recommends that although the subject of climate change is cared for by schools solely in classrooms and in a passive manner without related project work, discussions of solutions should be integrated with the science, to provide a broader picture and to prevent students from becoming disengaged and fatalist (Johnson, 2009). Another study undertaken regarding the role of higher education as change agent for sustainability wraps up by saying that institutions of higher education can be considered a stakeholder group with significant potential influence on society through many different mechanisms ( Stephens et al., 2008). The same stand is adopted in the UK whereby a study performed in September 2008 to assess the current state of knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by the surveying trading with regard to climate change impact reveals that around 50 per cent of graduates considered that there was no, or little reference to the issue sustainability and the effects of climate change in their own programmes. The study concludes that Whilst no one is suggesting that climate change should replace topics in existing syllabuses, based on the scientific evidence, i t should be an integral part of any decision related to the strengthened environment in order to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability.(Dent and Dalton, 2010). Regarding the role of the Hawaiian university with regard to climate change mitigation, a research make in 2008 highlights that Universities are uniquely positioned within the climate change negotiation to act as resources for multi-disciplinary regional and global climate research, provide large(p) public education and outreach with credible and current information, and to serve as models of institutional and behavioral change.(Coffman, 2008).This paper summarises the perception of the working personnel on climate change, focusing on the target populations awareness as well as understanding of the climate change problem and its impacts on local water resources. The study highlights that education level is a key factor influencing the level of awareness and understanding of respondents. The findings of this study may help policy makers to better design more effective adaptation measures specific to safeguarding the islands water resources against climate change impacts and which would be understood by the Mauritian working personnel as well as receive their full support.