15/04/2011

On the radio, on TV, in the newspapers, everywhere, everybody talks about the climate change. From 13 to 20 March 2011, the 10th European Youth Parliament for Water focused on this very hot issue!

The consequences of climate change on water resources

Climate change suggests that over the next century our planet will get warmer to the tune of 1.4 to 5.8°C as a result of mankind's use of fossil fuels, like oil and coal. This will affect both the quality and quantity of water available for humans and environment. Extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, are likely to increase in both severity and frequency!

Climate change is also expected to affect the water quality in a number of ways but it will not affect Europe uniformly. The most affected zones are for example Mediterranean areas, coastal areas or mountain areas, highly populated floodplains but also unprivileged areas where water management is already problematic.

Various surveys in Europe show that citizens are partly aware of climate change, and majority of them consider that their government doesn't do enough for preventing the consequences. However, the citizens are not informed correctly on these consequences, especially on water, and on how they could act at their own scale. That is why mobilisation of all -from citizens to political figures- is crucial to have an impact on such a global issue!

Why the Netherlands?

The 10th Parliament was organised in cooperation with the Province of Gelderland in the East of the Netherlands. In fact, this country is experienced regarding water management. Living in a delta area close to the sea has always meant finding ways of coping with a multitude of water related issues such as floods!

But the Netherlands are now facing a new challenge! The current water management practices have to be reconsidered, because they are no longer sufficient to insure the country water security. The Netherlands are therefore the perfect place to realise how climate change consequences on water can  threat even the population living condition!

What programme?

Active learning: through debates with international water experts, researches in the field to discern the impact of the climate change on water resources and the measures undertaken, through exchanges with local stakeholders and among the youngsters themselves.

Collective creation: through workshops in small groups, the young people work on joint projects, recommendations targeting politicians and artistic expressions.

Democratic practices: democracy is a key process throughout the event: the adoption of the joint declaration and recommendations, election of representatives, holding of a final public session in the presence of national and European elected officials.

Social events: an inter-cultural evening and discovering of the Netherlands and the Province of Gelderland culture.