Water and climate change impacts and adaptation strategies
This technical paper analyzes existing scientific information on observed and projected impacts of climate change on water, on links between climate change and freshwater resources, and on adaptation to climate change in the water sector. The paper also discusses the challenge of identifying and implementing appropriate adaptation responses by considering new approaches to adaptation planning and decision making. The paper is comprised of five sections: (i) section one introduces the background for the analysis and the scope of the paper; (ii) section two evaluates the impacts of climate change on water resources; (iii) section three assesses strategies for the adaptation of freshwater resources; (iv) section four reviews current needs and outlines priorities for the future; and (v) section five outlines the five main conclusions of the paper for consideration.