IWRM as a tool for adaptation to climate change
It is now widely accepted that climate change will lead to an intensification of the global hydrological cycle and will have a major impact on regional water resources. It is also clear that, in many parts of the world, variability in climate conditions, next to many socio-economic and environmental developments, is already having major impacts and that such variability is increasing.
Both present variability and long-term climate change impacts are most severe in the developing world, and particularly affect the poor in these regions.
Learning objectives
- Understanding the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management in relation to climate change
- Understanding the climate system and the hydrological cycle
- Being aware of the impact of climate change on society
- Understanding of dealing with risk and uncertainty
- Understanding of adaptation in relation to water and climate change
Course structure
The water and climate change online module is offered in full distance learning mode. Participants complete the course in a period of 10 weeks with a workload of 80 hours.
A participant is expected to spend about 8 hours a week on average through reading, discussion and assignments. The course is sub-divided into 5 subjects and a written assignment. A complementary modelling course with a study load of 40 hours is optional.
Within the course, each subject starts and ends on a specified day. Generally, a subject takes 2 weeks.
Within this period, the participant is free to study in his or her own time. Questions with regard to the subject can be posted on the discussion forum, eliciting responses from fellow participants and teachers.