Climate Exchange

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tion of meteorological and hydrological characteristic changes on an

annual scale from 1961 to 2010 and for 2020 to 2050. Both periods

showed increases and decreases during some months of the year and

an increase in annual, winter and summer temperatures as well as an

increase of winter precipitation, decreases in maximum spring and

summer discharges and increased winter flow. In addition, the peak

of the spring flood and the dates of minimum winter flow tend to

occur earlier in the whole basin area.

The most important lesson from this assessment was that a common

approach to statistical analysis and elaboration of meteorological

and hydrological characteristics reveals some trends towards change.

Information regarding socioeconomic factors is not a part of

the Niemen River basin countries’ hydrometeorological services.

Generalized information in this field and other socioeconomic

factors in the Niemen countries are presented in the national statis-

tical offices and in the corresponding ministries. This information is

not accessible online, but it can be received by special request from

the corresponding agencies.

Involving the stakeholders

The main stakeholders involved in the process of climate impact

assessment on water resources in the Niemen River basin are the

Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources

(Belarus) and Vilnius University (Lithuania) as well as the hydrom-

eteorological services of these countries. The Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of

Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, as well as other

ministries including the Ministry of Housing and communal services

and local administrations in the river basin, are the main stake-

holders. Similar stakeholders can be identified in Lithuania. The

Nevsko-Ladojskoye Basin Administration is the main stakeholder

involved in Niemen water resources management in the Kaliningrad

Region of the Russian Federation. These stakeholders were identi-

fied due to their importance in the decision-making process.

The hydrometeorology services of the Niemen countries are

involved in the project activities as the organizations responsible

for the meteorological and hydrological networks in the river basin.

Some meteorological information (from 2009) and

hydrological information (water levels for the last 30

days) are accessible online. These services are preparing

reports about meteorological and hydrological situa-

tions which can be used by other stakeholders including

the Ministry of Emergency Situation and the Ministry

of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, as

well as other ministries and stakeholders as necessary.

The hydrometeorological services of the various coun-

tries are also responsible for cooperation with the World

Meteorological Organization.

Managing for the future

The main results of the project will be recommenda-

tions for the improvement of water management in the

Niemen River basin, taking into account adaptation to

climate change. These recommendations can be used

by management authorities in the Niemen River basin

(such as the Ministry of Environment of all the Niemen

countries and their regional branches), other stake-

holders, public authorities and citizens. They will be

especially useful for the improvement of water supply

and wastewater cleaning and removal systems, and

for optimizing water quantity and quality monitoring

systems and improving assessment and forecasting.

Some of the project’s activities are funded by the

Environment and Security Initiative, while the routing

of meteorological and hydrological monitoring in

the Niemen countries’ national monitoring systems

is supported by the countries’ national budgets. This

context guarantees the project’s financial sustainability.

The project is evaluated through Project Steering

Committee meetings with the participation of repre-

sentatives from UNECE, ENVSEC and the main

stakeholders, as well as through project working

group meetings.

Installation and successful functioning of the

common information platform (internet database),

containing data on water resources management and

adaptation to climate change for the Niemen River basin

countries, is an important focus for the future. This

platform should be based on the regular data exchange

between the Niemen countries.

An important goal is the development and implemen-

tation of recommendations for national programmes

and projects on the improvement of water resources

management in the river basin, in relation to climate

change. A new international project on assessment

of the climate change impact on groundwater in the

Niemen river basin will also be beneficial.

In keeping with Principles 6 and 8 of the Global

Framework for Climate Services, this project promotes

the free and open exchange of climate-relevant

observational data between the Niemen countries.

Recommendations for adaptation to climate change

will be developed in the framework of the project, and

these will take into account the participation of the

main users, with provider partnerships that include the

main stakeholders.

Source: Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources

The Niemen River basin