Policy directions

CLIMATE is changing but most of the change is induced by human activities that do not take into account the capacity of the natural resource to sustain itself. Managing these changes is a fundamental driver of change in the water resource and will define the ability to meet the challenges in securing food, economic sustenance and social development.

Adapting to climate change remains to be a critical challenge, particularly for communities whose capacity to adapt is low. An efficient water resources management is essential to secure the resilience of ecosystems and their sustainable use.

The rising populations and the increasing demands for water and water-dependent products requires the management of water resource which are made more difficult by lack of knowledge and information on the amount and quality of water available.

Knowledge gaps are even larger when predicting future conditions such as how much water can be withdrawn without serious environmental consequences. Little is being done on this.

When climate change interacts with other drivers including population growth, land use changes and economic activities, uncertainties are deepened which demands local problem solving capacity to tailor adaptation measures.

This is where local government units can make a difference. Policy directions are essential for decision makers with direct responsibility for the management of water and for industry players who have a major impact on water resources and their management.

It is high time to improve the way water issues are tackled by policy makers in key areas such as supply and sanitation, agriculture, energy and public health. There are challenges to be met and the consequences are high.

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