Climate change and adaptation was a central topic of the 5th World Water Forum (WWF5) [1]. But is the overwhelming emphasis on water and climate change justified? Roger Calow of the London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI), believes that treating development and climate adaptation as separate issues is misguided. In Ethiopia, for example, extending access to secure water and sanitation, and reducing dependence on unprotected water sources, is central to both poverty reduction and climate adaptation. Together with demographic shifts, urbanisation, water pollution and changing land use, climate change is just one of the many pressures on water, Calow writes.

Understanding the impacts of climate change on water in developing countries and formulating responses was the topic of a meeting [2] organised by ODI and the UK Department of International Development (DFID) on 30 March 2009. Based on current scientific evidence, Prof Nigel Arnell, Director of the Walker Institute for Climate Systems Research, suggested that “robust, flexible climate adaptation” was the best way forward. Margaret Catley-Carlsson of the WEF Global Agenda Council on water, emphasised the need for “soft” solutions such as protecting forests and wetlands, addressing industrial pollution, and integrated water resource management.

[1] WWF5 – Theme 1.1 - Adapting to Climate Change – background documents (registration required) ; session documents.

[2] Climate change and water: Understanding impacts, formulating responses. Event web site (includes report, presentations and audio files).

Related documents:

• Batchelor, C. …[et al.] (2009) Climate change and WASH services delivery : is improved WASH governance the key to effective mitigation and adaptation?. Perspective paper, prepared for the 5th World Water Forum. The Hague, The Netherlands, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Download here
• Nicol, A. and Kaur, N. (2009). Adapting to climate change in the water sector. (ODI background note). London, UK, ODI. Download here.
• Journal of Water and Climate – IWA Publishing. First issue due in June 2009. More information

Related news: Population growth: global water crisis ‘to strike by 2030′, Source Weekly, 02 Apr 2009

Related web sites:

• Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate
• IRC - Climate change and the WASH sector
• For more bookmarks (Delicious) see: WASH and Climate Change

Source: Roger Calow, ODI blog, 20 Mar 2009

Tags: policies & legislation, water resources management