Table Of ContentSpringer Water
Mukand Babel
Andreas Haarstrick
Lars Ribbe
Victor R. Shinde
Norbert Dichtl E ditors
Water
Security in
Asia
Opportunities and Challenges in the
Context of Climate Change
Springer Water
Series Editor
Andrey G. Kostianoy, Russian Academy of Sciences, P. P. Shirshov Institute of
Oceanology, Moscow, Russia
The book series Springer Water comprises a broad portfolio of multi- and
interdisciplinary scientific books, aiming at researchers, students, and everyone
interestedin water-relatedscience.The seriesincludespeer-reviewed monographs,
edited volumes, textbooks, and conference proceedings. Its volumes combine all
kinds of water-related research areas, such as: the movement, distribution and
quality of freshwater; water resources; the quality and pollution of water and its
influence on health; the water industry including drinking water, wastewater, and
desalinationservicesandtechnologies;waterhistory;aswellaswatermanagement
and the governmental, political, developmental, and ethical aspects of water.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/13419
Mukand Babel Andreas Haarstrick
(cid:129) (cid:129)
Lars Ribbe Victor R. Shinde
(cid:129) (cid:129)
Norbert Dichtl
Editors
Water Security in Asia
Opportunities and Challenges in the Context
of Climate Change
123
Editors
MukandBabel Andreas Haarstrick
AsianInstitute of Technology TU Braunschweig
Bangkok,Thailand Braunschweig, Germany
LarsRibbe Victor R. Shinde
TH Köln AsianInstitute of Technology
Köln,Germany Bangkok,Thailand
Norbert Dichtl
TU Braunschweig
Braunschweig, Germany
ISSN 2364-6934 ISSN 2364-8198 (electronic)
SpringerWater
ISBN978-3-319-54611-7 ISBN978-3-319-54612-4 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54612-4
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Foreword
Therelationshipbetweenwaterandclimatechangecannotbeoveremphasized.Itis
the primary medium through which the impacts of climate change are manifested.
Theseimpactsresultineithertoomuchwaterintheformoffloodsortoolittlewater
corresponding to water shortages. Already, many regions in the world are experi-
encingtheseimpacts,andthetrendwillonlycontinue,andperhapsintensity,unless
corrective action is taken. Asian countries are particularly vulnerable for several
reasons.Overthelastfewyears,incidentsrelatedtofloodsanddroughtshavebeen
ontheriseinAsia,eveninareaswhichtraditionallyhaveneverfacedsuchissuesin
the past.
Achieving water security is a prime mandate of governments across the conti-
nent. The last decade has seen several countries announce a flurry of policies,
ambitious flagship programmes, and dedicated projects, all geared towards
improving indigenous water security. Water is a strategic research and academic
focus area of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). We are proud that AIT has
been instrumental in conducting several evidence-based comprehensive scientific
studies in some of the countries, that have paved the way for these initiatives.
v
vi Foreword
Addressing climate change is a significant cog in the wheel in that journey
towardswatersecurity.Attheheartofanappropriateresponsetoclimatechangeis
improved knowledge about the interplay of this phenomenon with the various
societaldimensionsthatconcernus.Iamhappythatthisbookseekstocontributeto
this ever-growing body of knowledge on this subject. The editors, experts in their
ownright,havestringedtogetheracompendiumofhigh-classresearchstudiesthat
lookatmultipleaspectsofclimatechange.Thisisimportantbecauseitisnowquite
evident that combating climate change will require a multi-pronged approach
involving diverse stakeholders and different sections of society.
I am optimistic that this book will serve as a useful reference media to a wide
range of readers—academics, research scholars, practitioners, and students.
I congratulate the editors and authors for their commendable work.
Dr. Eden Y. Woon
President
Asian Institute of Technology
Thailand
Preface
Waterisattheheartofhumansecurity.Italsoservesasthevitallinktoanumberof
otherhumanneedssuchasfood,energy,andinfrastructure.Howwaterismanaged
will have repercussions on almost every aspect of human security. It is common
knowledge that our planet is endowed with abundant water resources but the
amount of that available in the form of usable water is very small. Over the years,
the world’s water resources have been increasingly facing severe pressure from
many drivers: population growth, migration, industrialization, urbanization,
socioeconomic development, among others. Climate change is exacerbating the
crisis, particularly in Asia. Changing weather conditions are leading to increasing
hydrologic variability and incidences of extreme events. Going forward, the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests an increase in the
number of years with above-normal monsoon rainfall or extremely low rainfall.
Meltingglacierswillaffectwatersupplies,creatingrisksofglaciallakeoutburstsof
floods and downstream flooding for some regions. This will lead to an overall
reduction in water supplies from snow cover and glacial runoff in the long run.
Droughts will also become an even more serious concern, particularly given the
already strained water access issues.
Since the last five years, the Global Risk Landscape developed by the World
Economic Forum has consistently highlighted water crises among the top global
risksthattheworldfaces. Enhancingwater security,therefore, figuresprominently
in almost every global and national development agenda. The Sustainable
DevelopmentGoal6(Ensureavailabilityandsustainablemanagementofwaterand
sanitationforall)isanaptexampleforaglobal-levelinitiative.Similarly,almostall
countries in Asia have prioritized water security and management in their policies
and relevant development plans.
In order to truly achieve water security, it is important to have a holistic
understandingofthevariousdimensionsofwatersecurity,andforthestakeholders
inthevarioussectorstorefrainfromworkingin“silos”andproliferateinter-sector
cooperation and coordination. It is against this backdrop that in November 2016,
the Asian Institute of Technology in association with Exceed centers CNRD
(Cologne) and SWINDON (Braunschweig) in Germany organized an International
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viii Preface
Scientific Conference on “Water Security and Climate Change: Challenges and
Opportunities inAsia”. The objective of this conferencewas toprovide aplatform
for engaging leading experts in Asia and beyond in cross-sectoral discussions on
watersecurityissuesinAsiatofacilitatethepathtowardwater-securesocieties.The
conference also sought to serve as a common interface for science, practice, and
policy related work and trigger deliberations and dialog among the diverse stake-
holders.Theconferenceaimedtoencompassasmanydimensionsofwatersecurity
as possible and received papers related to sixteen thematic areas. These include:
stateofwater resourcesandwatersecurityphilosophies; assessing andquantifying
water security; hydrological assessment and forecasting; groundwater security
assessment and management; environmental water security assessment; water
security for agriculture productivity; climate induced disaster risk assessment and
impacts; climate resilient water supply management; enhancing ecosystem pro-
tection;climatechangeadaptationtoreducedisasterrisk;decisionsupporttoolsfor
enhancing water security; water utility management; regional and national level
water security enhancement interventions; water economics; wastewater reuse;
stakeholder engagement and institution building. The conference, funded by the
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), was attended by over one hundred
and fifty experts from twenty countries.
We are pleased to present this book that comprises the highly appreciated and
thought-provokingpaperspresentedintheaforementionedinternationalconference.
The book is organized into different sections, each dwelling on a unique aspect of
climate change and water security. The editors would like to thank all authors for
their contribution to this publication. The editors would also like to acknowledge
and thank Ms. Aakanchya Budhathoki Shah and Mr. Shashwat Sharma for their
support in developing this publication. We hope this collection of papers will
provide good insights into the holistic nature of water security and arouse more
scientificinterestinsubsequentresearchandactionthaturgentlyneedstobetaken.
Bangkok, Thailand Mukand Babel
Braunschweig, Germany Andreas Haarstrick
Köln, Germany Lars Ribbe
Bangkok, Thailand Victor R. Shinde
Braunschweig, Germany Norbert Dichtl
About this Book
This book provides state-of-the-art scientific knowledge on the interlinkages
between climate change and water, especially in the Asian context. Asia has been
facing several water-related challenges for decades due to multiple factors such as
increasing population, socioeconomic development, urbanization, and migration,
and climate change now poses an additional threat. While significant efforts have
been made by governments in Asia, much more work is needed to make Asian
societies water secure. To do so will require improved knowledge about the
interaction of climate change and water resources. This book attempts to meet this
knowledge need through a multidisciplinary approach that looks at multiple per-
spectives and dimensions of water security. The book can serve as a beneficial
resource for scientists and researchers involved in furthering the knowledge on
water security and climate change and facilitate the translation of this knowledge
intopractice.Inaddition,itwillprovidepolicymakers,planners,andpractitionersto
gain useful insights for formulating sustainable water security enhancement
strategies grounded in sound scientific evidence.
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