1. How to integrate SHARE MCA in hydropower
and river ecosystems management
regulations
Session 4 - Integrated water management experiences
Final meeting
Aosta – Italy,
24th May 2012
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

2. Integrated water management experiences
Why to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem management ?
To deal with a complex decision making !
Policy makers and deciders have to deal with complexity:
To take decision for a local or a regional authority challenges to consider the
point of view of many citizens, the interests of many users or actors …
sometime contradictory !
But also schizophrenic legal orientations …
How to combine
the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (« good quality of
water ») and
the enhancement of Hydropower fostered by the RES-e Directives and
the Energy-Climate package (objective of 20% of renewable energy in 2020
and considering the Alpine hydropower potential) ?
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

3. Integrated water management experiences
Why to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem
management ? The Alpine challenge:
The Alpine economy has been strongly oriented by its capacity to make
of a permanent natural handicap an asset
- abundance of water (precipitation) +slope = risk + energy ;
- hydropower = one of the main structural forms of energy production for the
Alpine valleys;
- installation of many electro-intensive industries (EII such carbon, aluminum,
etc.) in Alpine valleys during the XIXth and XXth centuries are the direct
consequence of the proximity of hydropower plans;
- hydropower remains a strategic sector (necessity energy mix and main
renewable energy source);
-hydropower a strategic sector ? Even if it is not low-cost energy, it is flexible
and performing.
-… the total power output of the Alpine hydropower stations is more than
45 800 MW !
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

4. Integrated water management experiences
Why to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem management ?
To avoid opposition between River ecosystems Vs hydropower?
Environment Vs adaptation to climate change?
Alpine regions have a strong natural capital in heritage !
Link to economic value, the Alps is a leading region for green growth !
Importance of adaptation to climate change: the Alps would face a two times
warm up
Then, many alpine actors and municipalities have developed or want to develop
climate plans which instigated some crucial energy policies…
i.e: Action plan for climate of the Alpine Convention:
A complex context in the one policy makers should decide or not to develop micro-hydroelectricity in the
Alps (… AC small hydro guidelines).
Important risk : the important potential of RE in the Alps could appear impossible
to realize or too expensive to mobilize …
because of the political complexity to decide what is good or bad …
even if the real choice is generally between the worst and the lesser evil.
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

5. Integrated water management experiences
Considering this favorable Alpine “compost”, MCA appears as a perfect tool
to integrate complex data and to manage multipart system.
Better than to ignore a dimension or to overweight an issue, the MCA would support a
balance integration of every interests:
- Objectify a decision;
- Avoid non-transparent political assessment made with too technical positions;
- Avoid pros or cons ex-post evaluation of new hydropower projects but prefer a
shared ex-ante evaluation;
- Political analysis and decision still possible regarding the weight given to the various
indicators link to priorities;
During meetings done with various experts, stakeholders or deciders, the MCA
process gives real opportunities to organize a better partnership and multilevel
governance.
This is absolutely necessary for mountain territories as Alpine regions to adapt policies
to the specific challenges or “regions with natural or geographic permanent
handicaps”. Regional environmental governance is a key challenge for the sustainable
development of mountain regions.
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

6. Integrated water management experiences
How to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem
management ? With a multilevel and environmental governance and a
territorial cohesion objective !
A strict analysis of the various legal competencies (who is doing what !) :
Europe, States administrations, Regional and local administrations;
To consider that territorial scales (river, valley, bassin, massif, etc.) are more
pertinent to built a efficient integrated approach : Alpine level, multiregional
bassins, valleys, rivers…
To consider that mountain regions need partnership and close decision making;
MCA-SHARE helps to give a commune « vocabulary » to various
actors and deciders; MCA-SHARE appears as a tool of
consensus between strategy and action, protection and
development !
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

7. Integrated water management experiences
How to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem
management ?
By considering the demand of Economic valorisation of Ecosystem services !
TEEB study as a global reference
Evaluation sequence building on scientific information
But also the link to be done with Green infrastructures debates:
Design, implementation and cost elements of Green Infrastructure projects
Green infrastructure is the network of natural and semi-natural areas, features and green spaces in rural and urban, and terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and
marine areas, which together enhance ecosystem health and resilience, contribute to biodiversity conservation and benefit human populations through the
maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services. Green infrastructure can be strengthened through strategic and co-ordinated initiatives that focus on
maintaining, restoring, improving and connecting existing areas and features as well as creating new areas and features.
The technical link between renewable energy and ecosystem services made with MCA-SHARE
is stimulating to organize better the new model of green economy that the Alps could propose
to Europe.
Therefore, Water and Energy should be topics to be develop in a European macroregional
strategy for the Alps.
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

8. page 8
Integrated water management experiences
How to integrate MCA-SHARE in hydropower and river ecosystem
management ? By building a European Strategy for the Alps !
The Baltic sea and Danube examples are strong in the EU orientations
« An integrated framework that allows the European Union and Member States to identify needs and allocate available resources
thus enabling the Baltic Sea Region to enjoy a sustainable environment and optimal economic and social development»
A higher complementarity between the future Alpine space programme and the
Alpine Convention: No new institutions, no new budget
The transnational mountainous identity of the Alpine regions + The necessary solidarity
between the adjacent metropolises and the Alps + The share challenges of the Alpine
states in the EU (even CH and Lie).
A central place for the water issue :
. The Alpine convention : RSA2, Water platform, etc.
. The Alpine space projects: active and future
. The Alpine events on water issues: 3rd Congress on high water sheeds (EURO Riob in Megève), 3rd
international conference (AC in Venezia), Marseille, Aoste !
could bring to :
A better coordination and visibility of actions that confort a clear leadership of the Alps in European
water management
A key element for a proactive Alpine strategy link to the Alpine assets to contribute to the EU 2020
strategy
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012

9. page 9
Integrated water management experiences
Nicolas EVRARD
Secrétaire général
Chambéry
Tél. : +33(0)4 79 71 42 30
Fax: +33(0)4 79 71 50 16
http://www.promonte-aem.net
nicolas.evrard@promonte-aem.net
SHARE, Final meeting – Aosta – Italy, 24th May 2012