Adaptation to Climate Change Through Water Resources Management ― Capacity, Equity and Sustainability

The impacts of human-induced climate change are largely mediated by water, such as seasonal changes in river basins due to glacial melt, increased occurrence of droughts and floods, and sea level rise in densely-populated coastal areas. Such phenomena impact both urban and rural communities in developed, emerging, and developing countries. This book analyzes evidence from river basins around the world and identifies common barriers and opportunities for adaptation to climate change.

All chapters consider the crosscutting themes of institutional capacity, equity, and sustainability. These show how to design resilient water allocation policies and systems that are capable of protecting social and environmental interests, whilst ensuring the efficient use of an often scarce resource. Case studies are included from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.

The book recognizes that many water basin and coastal institutions are experiencing increasing environmental and social pressure due to population growth, development and migration. It describes how climate change impacts add stresses to already stretched systems, threatening the efficacy of institutions and those living in a given river catchment. While cooperative interactions over water still outnumber conflictive ones, environmental security analyses demonstrate that disputes over water and land rights can lead to social unrest and violent conflict.

Dominic Stucker is a Research Intern, International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka, and Programs Manager, Sustainability Leaders Network, Brazil.

Elena Lopez-Gunn is a Senior Research Fellow at the Water Observatory, Botin Foundation, Madrid, Spain, and Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics, UK.