World Water Week high-level policy debate
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Ladies and gentlemen,
It seems as though the world is finally opening its eyes to and recognising the reality of climate change. This may be in response to the erratic weather of recent years, or it may be Al Gore’s global campaign that has made the difference.
Whatever the reason, there is growing awareness all over the world about the rising temperatures on Earth, even though it is not yet clear at what rate and on what scale this is occurring. However, an increasing number of people agree that the time has come to take action. We take measures by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. But we need to be realistic and prepare ourselves for the consequences of global warming that we will inevitably face. In this regard, we mainly speak about water management.
In the Netherlands, we are well versed in tackling water issues. For centuries, we have successfully controlled water and have adapted ourselves to its whims. We don’t have a choice. Without dams, dikes and dunes, two-thirds of our country would be flooded on a regular basis. A substantial part of the Dutch population lives below sea level, and it is actually in this part of the country that sixty-five percent of Dutch GNP is generated.
Unfortunately, we have not always been able to avert disaster. In nineteen fifty-three, large sections of the Netherlands were ravaged by floods. After this disaster, the Dutch government conceived the Delta Plan, which outlined the construction of the Delta Works, a number of large-scale structures that protect us from the sea.
Climate change compels us to re-assess the protection of our coastline and adapt it to an uncertain future. Once again, we will have to introduce sweeping measures to keep our feet dry through to the end of the next century and ensure a healthy supply of freshwater. We don’t know exactly how much and how fast temperatures will rise. So we need to find the correct way to deal with the uncertainties we face.
The need to re-asses our coastline was the main reason for me to establish the Delta Committee. This body comprises a number of administrators and leading scientists, who are studying the way we can protect ourselves best against rivers and the sea, now that the climate is changing. This committee will issue an overall recommendation in September with a long-term outlook, which will serve as the basis for a second Delta Plan.
I think it is essential that each country takes the time it needs to develop such a long-term vision and resulting policy documents, to prepare for climate change. This will enable them to manage their water resources before they are hit by floods and other disasters. Each country would develop its own plan, as countries and regions differ in geographic, economic and socio cultural terms. It is essential for countries to cooperate by coordinating their plans to those of their neighbours and exchanging knowledge with countries further afield.
Dealing with the consequences of climate change is a worldwide responsibility that we all face. Therefore, the Netherlands is sharing its knowledge and technology. We are sponsoring a programme to stimulate worldwide awareness of the problems we face in adapting to climate change. We also support concrete actions, such as a programme to make urban water management climate-proof in Indonesia.
Several Dutch ministries are joining forces with regard to international cooperation on the climate and water. I personally work closely with the Minister for Development Cooperation and the Minister of the Environment. We discuss funding for adaptation measures, select Delta areas for long-term partnerships with the Dutch government and prepare for international conferences on climate change.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A realistic budget is the basis of any good plan. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear how much the adaptation to climate change will cost. We only have rough estimates, which range from ten billion dollars to one hundred fifty billion dollars per year. This is why the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have asked the World Bank to analyse the costs of the necessary changes. This will help us to find and to allocate financial resources in the future.
These resources will enable us to transform our sense of urgency into vital measures that will save us a great deal of misery in the long run. Let us seize this opportunity to keep excess water at bay and improve our entire water system. We have woken up and opened our eyes. Now it’s time to get to work.