Flowing forward : freshwater ecosystem adaptation to climate change in water resources management and biodiversity conservation

The World Bank Group Strategic Framework has formulated advice on operational responses to the development challenges posed by global climate change. Among several major initiatives, the document envisages routine screening of operations for climate risks to major infrastructure investments with long life spans (such as hydropower and water transfer schemes).

The primary focus is on achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction outcomes from national to local levels despite climate risks, rather than on managing environmental change, per se. The Strategic Framework is intended to inform and support rather than impose actions on the various entities of the World Bank Group. Hence, the guiding principles point operational divisions toward suitable tools, incentives, financial products, and measures to track progress. Despite rapid growth in scientific and economic knowledge about climate development risks, it is recognized that there is no decision-making framework for handling multiple trade-offs and uncertainties, for example between energy investments and biodiversity or water management.

Therefore, the Framework places strong emphasis on flexibility and capacity building to ensure that there is learning by doing. Any technical assistance should be customized to meet local needsThe Strategic Framework is intended to inform and support rather than impose actions on the various entities of the World Bank Group. Hence, the guiding principles point operational divisions toward suitable tools, incentives, financial products, and measures to track progress. Despite rapid growth in scientific and economic knowledge about climate development risks, it is recognized that there is no decision-making framework for handling multiple trade-offs and uncertainties, for example between energy investments and biodiversity or water management. Therefore, the Framework places strong emphasis on flexibility and capacity building to ensure that there is learning by doing. Any technical assistance should be customized to meet local needs. Given the large uncertainties in climate risk assessment, not least due to limited agreement in regional predictions from climate models, the first action area of the Framework focuses on financial and technical assistance to vulnerable countries impacted by current climate variability (floods, droughts, and tropical cyclones). The underlying principle is that "low regret" actions should yield benefits regardless of future climate policies and risks. In reality, such actions tend to be "low regret" because of either incremental or opportunity costs arising from the strengthening of climate adaptation and climate mitigation components of development projects.Given the large uncertainties in climate risk assessment, not least due to limited agreement in regional predictions from climate models, the first action area of the Framework focuses on financial and technical assistance to vulnerable countries impacted by current climate variability (floods, droughts, and tropical cyclones).

The underlying principle is that "low regret" actions should yield benefits regardless of future climate policies and risks. In reality, such actions tend to be "low regret" because of either incremental or opportunity costs arising from the strengthening of climate adaptation and climate mitigation components of development projects.