Increasing Resilience to Climate Variability and Change: The Roles of Infrastructure and Governance in the Context of Adaptation

298 Pages·2016·12.98 MB·English

by  Cecilia Tortajada (eds.)

Water Resources Development and Management
Cecilia Tortajada Editor
Increasing Resilience
to Climate Variability
and Change
The Roles of Infrastructure and Governance
in the Context of Adaptation
Water Resources Development and Management
Series Editors
Asit K. Biswas, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
Cecilia Tortajada, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
Editorial Board
Dogan Altinbilek, Ankara, Turkey
Francisco González-Gómez, Granada, Spain
Chennat Gopalakrishnan, Honolulu, USA
James Horne, Canberra, Australia
David J. Molden, Kathmandu, Nepal
Olli Varis, Helsinki, Finland
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/7009
Cecilia Tortajada
Editor
Increasing Resilience
to Climate Variability
and Change
The Roles of Infrastructure and Governance
in the Context of Adaptation
123
Editor
Cecilia Tortajada
Institute of Water Policy, LeeKuan Yew
Schoolof Public Policy
National University ofSingapore
Singapore
Singapore
ISSN 1614-810X ISSN 2198-316X (electronic)
Water Resources Development andManagement
ISBN978-981-10-1913-5 ISBN978-981-10-1914-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-1914-2
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2016946013
©SpringerScience+BusinessMediaSingapore2016
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Foreword by Benedito P.F. Braga
In the spirit of cooperation that embodies the World
Water Council, collaborative thinking is central to
shaping approaches to climate resilience. While
humanity experiences increasing demographic and
socioeconomic stresses, recent episodes of extreme
climate around the world bring additional complexities
in finding solutions to reduce these stresses. Water is
one of the most impacted resources, but water also
provides solutions to these challenges. It is key in
mitigatingandadaptingtouncertainty,bothnowandin
the future.
Present climate variability poses important social
and economic impacts in the vulnerable, less affluent counties in the world. IPCC
reports that extreme hydrological events,suchas droughts andfloods, arelikely to
be more intense and frequent in the future. At the same time, increasing demands
for multiple water uses (irrigation, hydropower, domestic needs, industrial use, or
ecosystems) place additional pressure on already-limited water resources, intensi-
fyingcompetitionforwaterwithinandbetweenstatesandraisingtheimportanceof
how we manage this precious resource. Increased uncertainty can also reduce the
potential for investments, particularly in countries with the greatest needs.
In this book, the World Water Council and the Government of Mexico, whose
generous support enabled this work to be carried out, drew on influential and
inspiring experts worldwide to examine the role of water infrastructure, manage-
ment practices, and governance in generating increased resilience under increasing
climatic uncertainty. The findings of studies in the following pages from across
multiple continents suggest inspiring best-bet options for building and managing
water systems that increase resilience to climate change.
I am confident that this book will be an important contribution to shaping the
watersecurityandsustainabilityagendasinthecomingyears.Inalignmentwiththe
role of the World Water Council, this endeavour seeks to encourage continued
v
vi ForewordbyBeneditoP.F.Braga
dialog between the scientific community and decision-makers for better water
management under uncertainty. Importantly, it also moves us another step
forward towards improving understanding between water and climate change
professionals—because after all, climate is water.
Benedito P.F. Braga
President of the World Water Council
Foreword by Roberto Ramirez de la Parra
Climate change is a reality affecting all productive,
economic, social, and environmental sectors. However,
itseffectsaremainlyreflectedinthehydrologicalcycle
behavior and temperature anomalies, which result in
substantial changes in the average rainfall patterns and
in the frequency and intensity of extraordinary
hydro-meteorological phenomena (droughts and
floods).
In particular, precipitation variation and the conse-
quential surface runoffs have caused once-efficient and
safe hydraulic infrastructure to become inefficient and
hazardous. In some cases, this has resulted in a lack of
water discharge capacity or conveyance.
Toaddressthisproblem,societyatlargehasestablishednewpublicpoliciesand
programs, including the implementation of mitigation and adaptation to climate
change actions, especially of governance actions undertaken by the society jointly
with the authorities to reduce these effects.
The experiences described in this book will provide the reader with a better
overview of the current climate challenge and of the adaptation actions using
successful case studies that could be replicated in other regions of the world.
This book is not just a compilation of good intentions. It is a testimony of the
ongoing global efforts to reduce the vulnerability of the population and infras-
tructure faced with an increasingly evident and extreme climate change.
Roberto Ramírez de la Parra
Director General of the National Water Commission of Mexico
(CONAGUA)
vii
Foreword by Dogan Altinbilek
Uncertainty about the potential impacts of climate
change and variability on human and natural systems
globally requires that the government, private sector,
academia,andnongovernmentalorganizationscontinue
with their efforts to further generate and disseminate
knowledge on this topic.
The World Water Council has joined the interna-
tional community in its search for a deeper under-
standing of these themes. In collaboration with the
National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA)
and the National Association of Water and Sanitation
Utilities of Mexico (ANEAS), the Council has sup-
ported in-depth studies in several regions, basins, and projects in different parts
of the world. The lessons learnt are many. Specific conditions aside, the studies
confirmtherelevanceofwaterinfrastructureintheoverallresilienceandadaptation
of systems (economic, social, and environmental). A word of caution is that fun-
damental infrastructure that is built to store and regulate water under normal years
may not be as efficient under climate change conditions, where extreme events are
expected to increase.
AsChairoftheSteeringCommittee,Itrustthatcasestudiesandanalysesinthe
book will be an important reference for policymakers and new infrastructure
developments. I extend my most sincere thanks to all who contributed to this
project.
Dogan Altinbilek
Vice President of the World Water Council
Chair of the Steering Committee
ix
Foreword by Claudia Coria
Climatehasnoborders,norcanitdifferentiatebetween
rich and poor countries, social conditions. It does not
know how efficient the institutions responsible for
resource management can be. What is a fact is that
today the world is facing more complex problems
related to water resources management. Therefore, this
publication presents the most representative cases of
actions and experiences of different countries on water
infrastructure management and operation. We are cer-
tain it can be used as a benchmark for solving similar
problems around the world, helping to build resilience
to climate change.
This book contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG)6:“Ensureavailabilityandsustainablemanagementofwaterandsanitation
for all.” In particular, it contributes to the target of expanding international coop-
eration for capacity-building activities and programs on water and sanitation,
including water harvesting and storage.
Claudia Coria
International Affairs Manager
National Water Commission of Mexico
Member of the Steering Committee
xi