Climate change and water resources

This pamphlet describes in a comprehensive way what climate change is, how it is affecting the world we live in and the time frame within which changes are expected to happen. It explains in brief the hydrological cycle, and why the expected changes are devastating for the ecosystem. Estimates of the predicted impacts of climate change vary, with estimates of future global temperatures differing between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius. While there will clearly be some gains, most of the impacts will be negative, and gains and losses will not be evenly distributed. Temperature rise will result in changes in precipitation patterns, and this will result in increased floods and drought, which will have a significant impact on the availability of freshwater. Sea level rise will compromise coastal groundwater reservoirs.

Climate change will have a negative impact on the lives of the poor in developing countries. The poor are generally forced to inhabit land (floodplains, steep unstable slopes or exposed coastlines) that increases their exposure to climate risks. Developing countries also tend to be very reliant on climate-sensitive natural resources, such as agriculture, and have limited capacity to withstand and recover from the resulting storms, floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, and disruptions to food and water supplies.
The inequitable burden climate change places on the poor and developing countries, as well as the impacts on the world’s water resources, should make it to be a priority in development planning.

Measures to address climate change, including some current campaigns are presented.

202.3, 302.3