Climate Change and the Transformation of Global Water Resources
- Resumen
- Over the coming decades, changes in climate and society will drive a major transformation of global water resources. But the intensity and type of risks to water resources will vary greatly from region-to-region. For example, it is likely that climate change will intensify water scarcity in specific ¿hot spot regions¿ such as southern Europe, northeast Brazil, and southern Africa. At other locations precipitation and water availability will increase, although also with negative side effects. In the case of Europe, precipitation is expected to increase during winter and this likely to lead to more frequent flooding during this season in the central and northern sections of the continent. Meanwhile, global warming has already quickened the pace of glacier-melting in the Alps, Himalayas, and elsewhere. As the melting continues, river runoff fed by these glaciers will at first increase. Later, though, glaciers will diminish along with runoff, and this will endanger water supplies downstream. Society needs to respond immediately to these risks, and this response should take place at all levels, from local to global. At the global level there are three main tasks to take on. First, we have to reduce the immediate risk to society by establishing comprehensive early warning systems for droughts and floods. Second, we have to extend our knowledge of transformations going on in the global water system by expanding the scope of remote earth observations, and by conducting new large-scale field experiments and surveys. Third, we must protect nature and society over the long run by strengthening the global governanceof water.Thismeansexploringnewwaysofmanagingwateratthe global level through novel international institutions and conventions. These tasks need to be given high priority because the all-encompassing changes taking place in the global water system justify an equally wide-ranging response from society.
- Autor
- Alcamo, Joseph M.
- Palabras Clave
- Cambio climático, Recursos hídricos, Abastecimiento de agua
- Idioma
- Inglés
- Documentos
- Ponencia ( 14 pag, 406 Kb )
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- Existe un Video disponible en el Centro de Documentación