Awareness and Communication Strategy CHAPTER 4. CLIMATE CHANGE, VARIABILITY AND WATER-RELATED DISASTERS 4.1 Strategic Objectives Climate change and variability has become a major influencing factor, among others, in the planning, development and utilisation of water resources in the region. The understanding and appreciation of the vulnerability and adaptation measures to climate change and variability among stakeholders is essential. The strategic objectives in disseminating and communicating climate change and variability phenomenon and water related disasters should, therefore, include: - a) To raise awareness on provisions of national, regional and international climate change instruments (including provisions of the UNFCC convention and other relevant international instruments and agreements) and on the importance of mainstreaming the instruments in their national and transboundary river development and management processes; b) To ensure that the climate change phenomenon, scenarios, predictions, and impacts are understood among the general public, public and private sector and other stakeholders; c) To promote the available adaptation and mitigation strategies, measures and technologies necessary to minimise negative impacts and accentuate positive impacts with regards to water resource management; and d) To increase awareness of region’s preparedness for water-related disasters such as floods and droughts. 4.2 Key Message Areas 4.2.1 International and Regional Conventions and Protocols Communicate that regional and national climate change related instruments and activities should be adapted to the provisions of the relevant regional and international agreements that Member States are party to. To who: Policy makers, departments of Water Affairs, Shared Watercourse Institutions (SWCIs) How: Workshops, publications, personalities, newsletter articles, mass media, and websites SADC Member States are involved, from their national mandates, in the development and signing of the relevant international agreements. These international conventions and protocols should be public knowledge, particularly the obligations that southern African states should fulfil. The general public, public and private sector, NGOs should know these so that they can participate and track progress in their implementation. Therefore the key message should emphasise the mainstreaming the provisions of the relevant regional and international instruments into the national development agenda. These instruments are international Conventions and Protocols that pertains to Climate Change and SADC Conventions, Protocols, Polices, Strategies and Guidelines Page 21