Delta Life 12

Carola van Rijnsoever joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs straight from university in 1996. She went to work both in the Netherlands and internationally. She was sent to Moscow, Berlin and Brussels. From The Hague, she worked on the enlargement of the EU. Around the turn of the century she was in Moscow as President Yeltsin stepped down and Putin emerged on the stage. She was also one of the organi- sers of the state visit of the then Queen Beatrix and Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. Before taking up her position as Director of Inclusive Green Growth, she worked for eight years on the European Union's foreign and security policy. That involved a strong focus on countries inclu- ding Syria and Ukraine. In her current position, the emphasis is on water, climate, agriculture, polar policy, raw materials and energy. This is a new policy area, but not really. Sustainable planetary development is inex- tricably linked to security and international cooperation. She is also ambassador for sustai- nable development and Arctic ambassador. WHO IS CAROLA VAN RIJNSOEVER? DELTARES, OCTOBER 2019 8 You are also an ambassador for sustainable development. How do you contribute in that role? 'Both in the Netherlands and abroad, I tell people about our commitment to sustainable development and advocate good cooperation between all stake­ holders. Everything is interconnected in this area. Tackling climate change will reduce water stress in the long run. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions now may allow us to stop the earth warming up even faster. We are already facing things like more violent storms, higher temperatures and less predictable rainfall. We need to adapt agricultural systems to cope with climate change, for instance by using crops that can cope with less, or saltier, water. I think the world is facing huge challenges but I also see that as an opportunity. We may be the first generation that can end poverty but we are also the last generation that can make a significant difference in terms of fighting climate change. We have enormous technological potential and, fortunately, we now also have the political momentum to act. The will to work together makes a big difference here. If we succeed in establishing sound international cooperation, we can manage the challenge.' You are also an Arctic ambassador. Why is an ambassador for that region important? 'The Arctic is very sparsely populated but it is vital for the well-being of our planet. Climate change has more impact there than elsewhere. Permafrost thawing releases a lot of methane, which is a strong greenhouse gas. As the ice mass decreases, more dark spots are created and that reduces the reflection of heat and further accelerates global warming. So taking good care of the Arctic and the Antarctic has a direct effect on climate change. You may think the Arctic is a long way from us but the Arctic Circle is closer than Lisbon. We have been engaged in scientific research in the Arctic for centuries and we want to continue that effort. We also have a major potential economic interest: tourism, shipping and fishing are just some examples.' Does water have the place it merits on the international agenda? 'Water is a cornerstone for the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set at the UN. In terms of both combating hunger and risks to security, and also in terms of the development of sustainable cities and gender equality. It is hard to overestimate the importance of water for sustainable development. More and more of the world's population live in cities. It is estimated that, by 2050, around 800 million people will be living in cities that are vulnerable to sea level rise. And when you see that 2.3 billion people still have no sanitation and more than 600 million people lack access to safe drinking water, it is abundantly clear that we need to do more to improve flood risk management and water security.' 'Water is a cornerstone for the achievement of many sustainable goals’ WATER, PEACE AND SECURITY PARTNERSHIP In response to an initiative from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, international organisations are developing innovative methods to identify water-related risks of conflicts at both the regional and global levels. This involves combining hydrological, social, economic and political factors, among others. In the pilot projects in Mali and Iraq, the models show the changes in the availability of water, the causes and the potential or actual impact. This information can be used to develop action to help prevent the consequences of water shortages, including social unrest. The partnership is also developing the associated services, such as raising awareness about the links between water and stability, providing training and facilitating water- related negotiations. The Water, Peace and Security Partnership consists of IHE Delft, World Resources Institute, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Wetlands International, International Alert and Deltares. www.un-ihe.org/ water-peace-and- security-partnership