Operationalising Adaptive Capacity - Climate Change and Water Governance: Adaptive Capacity in Chile and Switzerland - page 252

advanced level of information on climate change scenarios at global and regional
levels, with associated adaptation options per sector (agriculture, mining, energy
etc.). The challenge is to integrate climate change impacts data not only into policy
and decision making at basin levels, but also developing adaptation options that
move beyond sector specific technological fixes to hydrological changes.
Furthermore, develop plans at the basin level that would enable adaptation across
the different sectors that could minimise further degradation of the social-ecological
system.
The sectoral focus towards climate change impact studies means that the subsid-
iarity of the environment in climate change adaptation is further reinforced. MMA
reports on climate change impacts present technical solutions towards mitigation
and adaptation to climate change for other water users (irrigation, energy and water
supply sectors), but rarely presents the environmental perspective in terms of how to
reduce the negative impacts of climate change on environmental degradation and
the potential role that enhancing ecological resilience may have in adaptation
choices.
The data sets and monitoring networks available for the Alps are in general far
more developed and extensive than in the Andes. Despite criticism that the monitor-
ing network is not as historical, widespread or well-maintained as in other areas of
Switzerland, the observational data, perception and awareness of climate change is
high. Climate modelling information in the cantonal administration and larger
hydropower companies' information is integrated into planning for the TRC and the
development of larger hydropower management decisions. However, this is con-
trasted by lack of integration of climate information across other sectors and at
lower administrative levels that provides data on water provision as opposed to
information on intense precipitation events.
Where climate information is included at the operational commune level, it is
mainly related to increases in intense precipitation and natural hazards, particularly
as they relate to the ability to employ water turbines for energy production. As part
of the Emergency Plan, required at the commune level, there is a requirement to
integrate data on stream flow levels, and their response to precipitation. At present,
most of the instruments to enable this level of monitoring are not yet implemented,
but it is planned to set up a central database, so that whoever requires the information
for decision making in extreme events can easily access it. At present, managers rely
on maps that estimate the correlation between precipitation volumes and run off.
The current lack of possibility for cantonal oversight over planning and water
related developments (refer to the deeper discussion in Part II) at the commune level
is one challenge in developing an integrated and coordinated response to more com-
plex and novel challenges, such as those posed by climate change. The separation of
responsibility, data bases and information products across sectoral, administrative 2
2 E.g. The canton the groundwater monitoring in the Rhône Valley (Monitoring der
Grudnwasservorkommen), but not the monitoring of the springs (Quellen), for which the com-
munes are responsible.