Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector

Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector

Edited By Fulco Ludwig, Pavel Kabat, Henk van Schaik and Michael van der Valk

'A very timely publication that reflects the current thinking in climate-related water management, and a much-needed contribution to education efforts dealing with global change. Highly recommended to all - students and teachers alike - as a guide to this complex but vital issue!'
Professor Richard Meganck, Rector, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education

$97.50
Hardback

February 2009 • 304 pages • 240 x 170mm • ISBN 9781844076529

Today’s climate variability already has a large impact on water supply and protection. Millions of people are affected every year by droughts and floods. Future climate change is likely to make things worse. Many people within the water sector are aware that climate change is expected to have serious consequences for water resource management, but they are unsure how to incorporate climate information into their management structures.

Providing a compendium of specific strategies, Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector is the first book to show students and professionals in the water sector how to adapt to climate change and variability. It enables advanced students, managers, decision-makers and other practitioners to feel comfortable in analysing and using climate data within the water sector.

The book consists of two parts: the first describes the general issues and is written mainly by the editors of the book, while the second part contains specific case studies drawn from a wide range of contrasting countries: Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Yemen.

Published in association with the Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate.

'I welcome this valuable effort, which sheds light on adaptation options for the water sector as a whole. This is an excellent publication that will be essential to anyone involved in water resources management.'
Paul Reiter, Executive Director, International Water Association (IWA)

'Climate change will impact first on water. The water sector worldwide will need to mobilize for climate change adaptation and integrate the needs of both people and nature as it does so. This publication will help water managers meet this challenge.'
Dr Mark Smith, Head, Water Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

'This book is indeed a very timely publication that reflects the current thinking in climate-related water management as a much-needed contribution to education efforts dealing with global change. Highly recommended to all - students and teachers alike, as a guide to this complex but vital issue!'
Professor Richard Meganck, Rector, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education

CONTENTS (Expand Contents)

1. Introduction

Part I: Climate Change and Water

2. The Art of Predicting Climate Variability and Change

3. Climate Change Scenarios at the Global and Local Scales

4. The Impacts of Climate Change on Water

5. Managing Water under Current Climate Variability

6. Using Seasonal Climate Forecasts for Water Management

7. Adapting to Climate Change in the Water Sector

8. Climate-proofing

Part II: Case Studies

9. Adaptation to Climate Change and Social Justice: Challenges for Flood and Disaster Management in Thailand

10. Water and Spatial Planning in The Netherlands: Living with Water in the Context of Climate Change

11. Climate Change and Alluvial Aquifers in Arid Regions: Examples from Yemen

12. A Water Utility's Approach to Addressing the Potential Impacts of Climate Change

13. Adaptation Measures for Metropolitan Water Supply for Perth, Western Australia

14. Benefits and Costs of Measures for Coping with Water and Climate Change: Berg River Basin, South Africa

15. Institutional Adaptation to Climate Change: Current Status and Future Strategies in the Elbe Basin, Germany

16. The Use of Seasonal Climate Forecasts within a Shared Reservoir System: The Case of Angat Reservoir, the Philippines

Index

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)

Fulco Ludwig is a member of the Climate Change group of Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands. Pavel Kabat is Full Professor and Chair Holder of the Earth System Science and Climate Change Group at Wageningen UR; Science Director of the Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate (CPWC), The Netherlands; and Science Director of the Dutch National Research Programme on Climate Change and Spatial Planning. Henk van Schaik is the Programme Co-ordinator of CPWC.
Michael van der Valk is a hydrologist and Communication and Information Coordinator for CPWC.

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