Archive: Water and Climate Change
Climate change is the threat to water-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that remains poorly understood and inadequately represented even in professional advocacy and campaigning for water and sanitation. Too often associated only with rising levels of saltwater and extremes of weather, climate change could fundamentally alter the delicate ecology of the water cycle, with devastating impact on freshwater dependence.
The overriding impression in these references to the impact of climate change on freshwater is one of considerable uncertainty. Greater clarity on the linkage between climate change and an impending water crisis could possibly remedy the current disappointments of climate change campaigning.
The overriding impression in these references to the impact of climate change on freshwater is one of considerable uncertainty. Greater clarity on the linkage between climate change and an impending water crisis could possibly remedy the current disappointments of climate change campaigning.
A review of the synthesis report "Climate Changes the Water Rules" highlights the need to incorporate climate change into water management policies. Produced by a network of experts from each field, the report suggests that action would be enhanced through continuous dialogues in the form of a new Water and Climate Alliance.
more...From: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre Related topics/regions: [Water/sanitation] [Climate change] Image: Climate change and rainfall © Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
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This summing up of a workshop of professsionals at the 2003 Stockholm Water Symposium includes an appeal for climate change issues to be mainstreamed within national water policymaking. And it suggests that improved risk management for existing climate volatility is good preparation for climate change impacts.
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Climate change is the rich countries' footprint on the south; despite this, southern countries must do what they can to prepare. For Africa and Asia especially, water could be the most serious issue.
more...From: id21 Related topics/regions: [Asia and the Pacific] [Africa] [Water/sanitation] [Climate change] Image: Troubled waters © International Oil Working Group / allAfrica.com
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A visual projection of changing demand for freshwater from United Nations Environment Programme. The conclusion is that any serious climate change problems lie beyond 2025, although it concedes that in the meantime most countries will experience negative impact.
more...From: UNEP Image: measuring climate change © Centre for Science and Environment
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An assessment of the impact of climate change in India features water as a major concern, likely to worsen an already critical situation for availability. Lower rainfall and more evaporation would lead to less runoff, substantially changing the availability of freshwater in the watersheds.
more...From: The Energy and Resources Institute Related topics/regions: [India] [Water/sanitation] [Climate change] Image: Water handpump, India. © Centre for Science and Environment
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At the Johannesburg summit for Sustainable Development, ministers responsible for water in African countries issued a statement warning that the potential impacts of climate change on water resources render many African countries and people increasingly vulnerable to water related crises.
more...From: The Water Page Image: Women carrying water © World Bank
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Climate change is expected to magnify the problem of freshwater resources in the Pacific Island Developing Countries. This chapter from a Pacific Institute publication discusses freshwater projections on climate change impacts, and recommends strategies to reduce adverse effects.
more...From: Pacific Institute |
A summary of activities of the Caribbean Dialogue on Water and Climate, an organisation established to promote policy discussion and action on water and climate among Caribbean countries. The various document links, especially "An assessment of the impact of climate change on the water sector in the Caribbean", show that small island states are concerned as much with freshwater impact as rising sea-levels
more...From: Caribbean Dialogue on Water and Climate Image: Island nations and climate change
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A controversial view that, far from being an environmentally efficient source of energy, dams may themselves be at once a source of greenhouse gases and at risk from extremes of climate.
more...From: International Rivers Network Image: Dam of controversy
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If evidence is needed of the significance of climate change for water, look no further than the $multi-million investment by NASA in its Aqua Earth Science satellite mission to study the earth's water cycle. These notes on the science of the cycle explain that "there is no more important greenhouse gas than water vapor" and that increased evaporation from global warming sets in train the positive feedback loops that are the nightmare of ecological stability.
more...From: Goddard Space Flight Center Image: Planet Earth © Michael Klare / MediaChannel
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