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Da Wiz-Life+.

Pagina principale > Contesto/en

The WIZ project especially addresses the integration of future water management conditions with spatial development and planning the built environment, by taking into account climate change impacts. Climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and the severity of extremes of heat and drought, rain and flooding. In Europe, Impacts on drinking water availability are already apparent: water demand has been increasing over the past 17 years and is over 100 million cubic metres(m3) of fresh water per year; but over the last three years only 24, 39, and 19 million m3 have been available respectively. Among the reasons, An increase in water temperatures and lower river flows will also affect water quality. Water stress is increasing in southern Europe and expected to continue as a result of climate change, increasing tourism and irrigation (linked to rising temperatures and droughts). Indeed, not only climate change, but also urban sprawl is increasing pressure on ecosystems in surrounding areas. To make matters worse, From its start in 2008, the financial crisis progressively substantiated in economic crisis, affecting employment heavily. The building sector,shown up as one of the active branches of economy, has been supported (in several countries, including Italy and Spain) by new, more favourable state regulations. For local authorities the chance to restart local economy attracting capitals and creating workplaces through easier procedure for the built environment is appealing. On the other hand the built environment links to increased demand of drinking water. So that water supply utilities are under pressure to grant new connections to the service without much projection efforts.

We will need to adapt — that means assessing our vulnerability and acting to lessen the risks, not simply control the crisis. Continuing the approach that proved successful with the ASAP project - LIFE 06 ENV/IT/000255 - (http://www.klink.it/asap), WIZ partners believe that integrated management, including reducing and managing demand instead of simply trying to increase the supply of water, is essential for adaptation (in fact crisis control is not adaptation). Ultimately, adaptation means reconsidering where and how we live now and in the future. An important basic problem is the lack of information for citizens (and business), that weakens their full participation to the water governance process. For instance knowing available water resources in an area compared to the amount of water used would enrich of a new perspective our decision of building/buying a house there. But better information need also be integrated into planning and management systems and accepted paradigms, behaviours and practices (institutionalisation).

The overall frame for action for the concerns addressed by the WIZ project is provided by the Commission's White Paper on Climate Change - (COM (2009) 147 – Adapting to Climate Change: Towards a European Framework for Action).