Climate Change & Water Seminars

Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) has initiated a series of informal but structured discussions on water and climate change. The hope is to create a collective space where caring and committed people from civil society, academia, government and elsewhere can meet. In this space we share information and perspectives. We grapple with contradictions and uncertainty. We explore how to build resilience in our communities and country to deal with the impacts of climate change on water and water services.

Through the seminar series we explore the links between water and climate change, how we respond and the consequences of not responding. We do this by honing in to very specific questions, grappling with day-to-day realities of water services, and standing back to conceptualise the ‘big picture’ in new ways. By familiarising ourselves with the language, issues and challenges, we intend, together, to change the future.

2010 discussions

What kind of activism works?, 22July 2010

Case studies will be presented based on civil society research and experience of catchment management agencies, sanitation, engaging with government processes, and community struggles on the right to water. An open discussion will follow on how, as activists from different institutions, we can be more effective in setting the agenda for water discourse, and ultimately what kind of activism works. (draft agenda and description)

Cape Town municipal budget and IDP, April 2010 (IDP Budget Comments)

To ensure that water services are affordable, acceptable, fair, ongoing and resilient to climate change, it is critical that we engage in how the city gathers and spends money. This workshop will help participants become familiar with the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budgeting processes that outline the city’s approach to water services. Participants will look at their own experiences, as well as research to identify priority areas. These will be used to develop a submission to the city. Ideas for ongoing monitoring and deeper engagement will be discussed. (Proceedings)

2009 discussions:
- Free Basic Water and Climate Change, Feb 2009 (Proceedings, 211KB)
- Water’s carbon footprint?, March 2009
- The role of tariffs in household water provision, May 2009 (Proceedings, 239KB)
- Mitigation opportunities in water provision, July 2009

The discussion series has produced a number of documents, including:
- Rationale for the water and climate change discussion series (83KB)
- Fact sheet on water and climate change (134KB)

- A concept note on participatory budgeting in water (108KB)

- Research paper on mitigation in the water sector

- Research paper on climate change and water services

The impacts of water management devices (WMDs) on households

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