THU 24 AUG 2023 | 11:30 AM — 1:00 PM
Palais Kheireddine
— Input (FRENCH) by Nidhal Attia
— Understanding the problems of the water sector in order to improve the efficiency of its governance. Tunisia is one of the countries severely affected by the consequences of climate change.
The most obvious impacts of which have been occurring regularly in recent years and are illustrated by the increase in heat periods and heatwaves, as well as the increasing scarcity of water resources. Although the climatic factor is well known to be responsible for recurrent rainfall disturbances, it alone does not explain our country’s delicate water situation, which is manifested by a succession of water-deficient years and below-normal seasonal and annual averages. Indeed, rising demand for water and dysfunctional governance mechanisms, combined with an outdated legal framework, mean that the problem is complex and the result of a water policy that needs to be totally rethought.
All these risks, which weigh heavily on the water sector, demonstrate the complexity of the subject and the urgency of acting on all fronts to ensure better governance of this vital resource, in view of the climate shock whose first signs are already beginning to be felt.
As the subject is highly complex, it would be wise to clear up the issue and explain the governance of water in Tunisia and its shortcomings, to address courses of action that would gradually make up for the poor governance of the water sector in Tunisia.
The session plan includes the following topics:
— Overview of the global water situation: a look back at the UN summit last March and its main conclusions
— Implacable scientific findings: main conclusions of the latest IPCC report
— Water resources in Tunisia: availability, mobilization and conservation
— Major issues in the water sector
— Governance of the water sector: institutional and legal aspects
— Water-Energy-Food Nexus: the close links between water and other vital sectors such as food and energy
— Levers for action and avenues for adaptation
FEATURED IMAGE
Constanze Flamme. SEE DJERBA Houmt Souk 2023.