E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems - Water cycle and Soil-related aspects Info Day on the Global Change

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o n

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Global Change and Ecosystems - Water cycle and Soil-related aspects

Info Day on the Global Change and Ecosystem FP6 Third CallThe Global Water Cycle

Andrea TilcheEuropean Commission, DG Research I.3

[email protected]

Brussels, Information Day, 9th June 2004


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Re-orientation of the FP6 Global Change Re-orientation of the FP6 Global Change and Ecosystem work programmeand Ecosystem work programme

A new acting-Director in place since January 2004 The results of the first two FP6 calls Some relevant new policy aspects:

The Communication on the Environmental Technology Action Plan, with three main actions for DG RTD:

Increase and focus research on environmental technologies Technology Platforms (Water) European Testing and Verification networks for environmental technologies

The 3% Communication Communication on the Commission Financial Perspectives

First proposals for FP7 The Environment & Health Action Plan The launch of the GEO process

Our Director General nominated co-chairman; final EO III summit in Brussels next February to launch the 10y action plan


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The new Communication on the future The new Communication on the future of European researchof European research

“Science and technology, the key to Europe’s future – Guidelines for future European Union policy to support research” Six main axes

Collaborative research, European technology initiatives, Basic research, Mobility of researchers, Infrastructures, Co-ordination of national research programmes

Two new domains Space Security

Possibility of a very consistent increase of funding


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Results of the first two FP6 callsResults of the first two FP6 calls

Learning phase for IPs From 1 to 2 stage evaluation Dimension and coherence of the proposals Problems in negotiation

Learning phase for NoEs Reasonable size corresponding to a credible integration Differences from CAs

Problems of managing a single budget Choice of the “up-to-two” for STREPs

Problems of participation New Member States, Candidate Countries, Third Countries, SMEs and

Industrial partners


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Consequences for the 3rd callConsequences for the 3rd call

A more technology-oriented Work ProgrammeNew subjects connected with the political initiatives:

ETAP Environment and Health Action Plan The GEO process

Emphasis on: New Member States and Candidate Countries International Co-operation – participation of third countries Participation of SMEs


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3rd Call – Sub-Area II3rd Call – Sub-Area IIWater Cycle and Soil-related aspectsWater Cycle and Soil-related aspects

6 IPs: Assessing the vulnerability of global water resources to environmental

change Advances in flood and drought forecasting Integrated Risk-based soil/water management Integrated urban water management Technologies and systems for drinking water

4 STREP areas: Twinning European/Latin American river basins Membrane bio-reactors for municipal wastewater Sewage sludge treatment, disposal and re-use Water reclamation and artificial groundwater recharge

2 indications of SSA topics: Technology Platform on water supply and sanitation Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry

Technologies !


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The Global Water CycleThe Global Water Cycle II.1.1.1 Assessing the vulnerability of global water resources

to environmental change This action should be launched through an international partnership with

a view of strengthening the capacity of European research on the global water cycle and in support of the various related international activities.[1] Emphasis should be given to the integration and synthesis of various ongoing experimental activities, modelling studies and data sets at the relevant scales, taking into account the human impacts and feedbacks on the land/ocean/atmosphere system. This action should benefit of the use of recent technological advances in measuring and modelling the earth water system in order to assess the vulnerability and predict the possible responses and feedback to global environmental change. [1] Reference is in particular to the Global Water System Project jointly sponsored by IGBP, WCRP, IHDP and DIVERSITAS, and to the GEO (Group on Earth Observation) process.


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The Global Water CycleThe Global Water Cycle II.1.1.1 Assessing the vulnerability of global water resources to environmental

change (IP) A contribution to the Global Water System Project and to GEO-GMES Integration and synthesis of various on-going experimental activities, modelling

studies and data sets at relevant scales, taking into account the human impacts and feedback on the land/ocean/atmosphere system

Various local and regional scale studies (eg. Baltex) provided already strong knowledge on understanding and modelling the water and energy fluxes between land-ocean-atmosphere and predicting the variations of the hydrological regimes.

There is a critical and urgent need now to better articulate the global-scale nature of water cycle studies with water resources management problems at catchment/river basin scale and link natural sciences with socio-economics.

More emphasis should be given now on intercomparison and synthesis studies of the various local/regional approaches

Key research issues should include the understanding the functional complexities water system, the improvement of integrated models to be able to predict the behaviour and interactions of the physical and human aspects of the global environmental change and the assessment of uncertainty in modelling

Support should be also given to the development of integrated water cycle observational systems, integrating data from different sources (e.g., satellites, in-situ) together with data assimilation capabilities


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• Follow up of the First Earth Observation Summit (EO I) in Washington DC, July 31, 2003;

• Established with 4 Co-Chairs:1) U.S. – Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., NOAA Administrator2) EC – Director General Achilleas Mitsos of the

Directorate General for Research 3) Japan – Mr. Akio Yuki, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,

Science, and Technology (MEXT) 4) South Africa – Dr. Rob Adam, Director General, Department of Science and

Technology• Membership is open to all countries and to International Organisations:

• Current members: 47 governments, the European Commission, and 29 participating organisations

Group of Earth Observation (GEO)Group of Earth Observation (GEO)


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• Aims:• Improved coordination of strategies and systems for Earth Observation, moving towards a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS);• Coordinated effort to involve and assist developing countries in improving and sustaining their contributions to observing systems;• Full and open exchange of observations recorded from in situ, aircraft and satellite networks with minimum time delay and cost;• Preparation of a 10-year Implementation Plan to build GEOSS based on existing systems and initiatives (framework plan endorsed April 2004 in Tokyo - plan will be presented at Third Earth Observation Summit, February 2005, Brussels) .

•A new role for the Environment Directorate: to provide the science basis for advanced Earth Observation services

GEOGEO


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Climate variability, floods and droughtsClimate variability, floods and droughts II.1.2.1 Advances in flood and drought forecasting.

This action should develop the scientific basis for more reliable short and long term predictions of the extent, frequency and severity of flood and drought events at European level, as well as their inter-relationships, with focus on sensitive European and Mediterranean areas. Research should take into consideration the impact of climate variability and land use change on flood and drought generation, providing advanced hydrological predictions, reducing and properly managing uncertainties, and improving the quality of quantitative precipitation forecast. With regard to floods, research should produce advances in the utilisation of the various data assimilation techniques, of remote and ground-based observation techniques and in the development of technologies for short-term flood forecasting, also improving the forecasting of flash-floods, especially in urban areas and ungauged catchments. Emphasis should also be given to the development of appropriate indicators and monitoring techniques and to the consolidation of relevant data sets. These efforts should provide inputs for the design of the EU flood protection policy. This action contributes also to the GEO process.


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Risk-based soil/water managementRisk-based soil/water management II.2.1.1 Integrated risk-based management of the water-sediment-soil

system at river-basin scale. Based on the detailed understanding of the functioning of the river-soil-sediment-

groundwater system, an integrated risk assessment-based management approach needs to be developed to prevent or reduce the negative impacts caused by human activities on the water/sediment/soil system (erosion, loss of organic matter, contamination, sealing, compaction, salinisation, loss of biodiversity, vulnerability to floods and landslides, etc.). The management approach should be restricted to the physio-geographical boundaries of the hydrological system and should take into account the impact of potential climate changes on hydrology, ecology, soil properties and functions, water quality and quantity. In order to achieve this, a number of targets have to be addressed, such as the identification of the causes of degradation and their actual and future status, the improvement of risk-assessment methodologies, the development of preventive approaches, the identification of mitigation and remediation measures, the development of management tools , recommendations and options that should provide the knowledge base for the evolution and the implementation of community policy (e.g. Soil Thematic Strategy, Water Framework Directive, etc.).


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Integrated Urban Water Integrated Urban Water ManagementManagement

II.3.2.1 Integrated urban water management within the context of global change in Europe and developing countries. There is a need for improved integrated assessment of the risks connected

to complex urban water systems and to develop sustainable long-term strategies and management practices to global change pressures, to safeguard quantity, quality and cost-effectiveness of urban water management. The project should deal in particular with the challenges linked to the urban sprawl in metropolitan areas and the competing needs of a polycentric/decentralised planning and of integrative needs. Research should also extend to the technical dimension of the various urban water uses and address economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects. An International co-operation should be foreseen for establishing links with the problems of developing countries mega-cities. This project is connected to the Environmental Technology Action Plan and to the EU Water Initiative. (Topic for up-to-one Integrated Project).


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Drinking water systemsDrinking water systems II.3.2.3 Technologies and systems for drinking water production and

distribution. Research should focus on the development of cost-effective system schemes and

technologies for safe drinking water supply. The project should address the whole water supply system, from different water sources to the consumer tap, having the objective of ensuring both chemical and microbiological quality and of minimising problems of taste and odours. The approach should include improved multi-barrier concepts, on-line monitoring and control, also for responding to the growing needs of system security. The innovation in system design should lead to higher reliability and better compliance with regulation and minimise health and occupational risks. In addition, the project should address issues of consumer perception and acceptance. The participation of SMEs is encouraged. Technological developments should be complemented by testing and validation activities. The Integrated Project is contributing to the objectives of the Environmental Technology Action Plan. Technological development should take into account the adaptation needed for potential transfer towards developing and transition economies, as a contribution to the EU Water Initiative. The participation of third countries partners is encouraged. (Topic for up-to-one Integrated Project)


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3rd Call – Other information3rd Call – Other informationBudget allocation

16 areas for New Instruments 150 M€ 12 areas for STREPs and CAs 50 M€ Specific Support Actions 5 M€

Timetable Publication 16 June 2004 Closure date 26 October 2004 at 17:00 Brussels time

Evaluation system for the NI 2 stages for IP-NoE

1st stage outline 15 p. max, few criteria of evaluation (for IP: relevance, potential impact, S/T excellence; for NoE: relevance, degree of integration and the JPA)

Indicative closure of 2nd stage 15 March 2005


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European Technology InitiativesEuropean Technology Initiatives

Technology Platforms being established in FP6 in key technological areas

Definition of a strategic common research agenda among the main stakeholders, able to mobilise public and private funds

Establishment of a public-private partnership for the implementation of “European Technological Initiatives”, making use of Art. 171 of the Treaty – the creation of joint undertakings


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Technology Platform on Water Supply Technology Platform on Water Supply and Sanitationand Sanitation

A global challenge for today and for the future A need to re-think to the whole water system in sustainable terms, also to

face the challenge of global change A very relevant technological dimension “Technologies” addressed in their broader meaning, from management

tools, to heavy hardware and to the complementary governance framework

Development of short-, medium- and long-term visionary research activities to produce step-changes in the water system

A concerted public-private effort in an area of risk for single groups to invest in

Establishment of a shared Platform, bringing together all the main actors, with the objective of defining a common research agenda


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Water TPWater TPActors involved:

Industry: Water service companies, Technology suppliers, Home appliances suppliers, Large Water Users

Professionals: Professional organisations, Water consultants Scientific community: Networks (e.g. EURAQUA), main

European and national projects, Scientific associations Regulators and water managers: Env. Agencies, River Basin

Authorities, Ministries (through a Member States Mirror Group)

EC services involved in water issues International associations Financial institutions Civil society, NGOs


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Water TP: timetableWater TP: timetable

2004 April-May: circulation of a draft document among selected

stakeholders May: bilateral and multi-lateral meetings with selected

stakeholders 28th May: constitution of the Technology Platform board June-July: enlarged stakeholder consultation July: work

programme September: starting of working groups

2005 Late spring: presentation of drafts of the vision document

and of the common research agenda

Documents

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems - Water cycle and Soil-related aspects Info Day on the Global Change