Climate Change Adaptation. The pivotal Role of Water. A UN-Water Policy Brief

This policy brief is addressed to practitioners and policy makers of water resources management and climate change, as well as sectoral decision makers. It aims to draw attention to the critical importance of better water resources management in adapting to climate change, and argues that it should be systematically integrated into national plans and international investment portfolios.

The brief describes: climate change impacts on water; water resources management under present climate variability; adaptation measures for water managers; and guiding principles for the required investments and policy shifts.

These principles include: mainstreaming adaptation within the broader development context; strengthening governance and improving water management; improving and sharing knowledge and information on climate and adaptation measures, and investing in data collection; building long-term resilience through stronger institutions, and investing in infrastructure and in well-functioning ecosystems; investing in cost-effective and adaptive water management as well as technology transfer; and leveraging additional funds through both increased national budgetary allocations and innovative funding mechanisms for adaptation in water management. 

Click to access the policy brief.