What is the IPCC?

According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), climate change is increasing concerns about water, such as scarcity, water quality, and water-related dangers. Specifically, chapter 8 focuses on the global water cycle, including precipitation, evaporation, and runoff. The report highlights that the water cycle is already being affected by climate change, and the impacts will only intensify in the future.

Water and climate change

The effects of global warming and the subsequent climate change and the water cycle are interconnected. According to the report’s primary findings and based on the UN’s warning on climate change, there are significant changes in the timing, intensity, and frequency of precipitation episodes. This is causing more frequent and severe flooding in certain areas, while others are enduring longer droughts. The research paper shows that the frequency of heavy precipitation events has increased globally by 3 per cent per decade since 1950.

Also, the impact of climate change on glaciers and snow cover, which are critical sources of fresh water for many regions, is substantial. The global area covered by snow has decreased by around 0.9 million square kilometres (km²) per decade since the 1970s, and glaciers are melting at an accelerating rate. The report estimates that glaciers worldwide lost around 267 gigatons (Gt) of ice per year on average between 2006 and 2015, which is double the rate of that in the previous decades.

Another significant finding between the interconnection of water and climate change is that the latter is exacerbating water scarcity in many parts of the world. The report notes that around 1.7 billion people live in river basins where water resources are under significant stress, and this number is projected to increase in the coming decades. The report also states that the number of people exposed to water stress could increase by up to 50 per cent by 2100 under a high-emission scenario.

The need for effective water management

There is a need for effective water management policies and practices to address the challenges posed by climate change. This includes increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture, reducing water losses in distribution systems, mitigating the effects of water scarcity on communities, and improving water governance and institutions.

In addition to climate change’s impacts on water resources, the report highlights water’s role in mitigating climate change. For example, wetlands, forests, and other ecosystems that store carbon can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while sustainable water management practices can reduce the energy required for water treatment and distribution.

We need to act now

The IPCC AR6 report makes it clear that climate change is already affecting the world’s water resources and that the impacts will only intensify in the future. Thus, we need to create a stronger framework to mitigate the effects of climate change. The report also suggests the urgent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit the extent of climate change.

The IPCC AR6 report notes, “Water is fundamental to life on Earth and is essential to sustainable development. The continued degradation of water quantity and quality by human activities, compounded by the impacts of climate change, poses risks to the health and well-being of human societies and ecosystems”.

GHD acknowledges that effective water management is part of all businesses, industries, and community life. Hence, GHD has built a robust global network of water skills and experience that we can apply to different scenarios.

We are focused on offering water-related services to our partners not only to help them with their internal challenges but also to help them contribute to the cause of global water sustainability and resiliency.

GHD’s water services include the following:

• Aquatic sciences
• Automation
• Circular economy
• Dams
• Future Water
• Hydrogen
• Hydrogeology
• Hydrology and hydrodynamics
• Impact assessment and permitting
• Integrated water management
• Maritime and coastal engineering
• Wastewater treatment and recycling
• Water treatment and desalination
• Water collection and distribution

Learn more about GHD’s water services at Water — GHD.

GHD has also produced an insightful report entitled Aquanomics, the economics of water risk, and future resiliency. This report uses a bespoke model to estimate the future economic impact of water risk from droughts, floods, and storms in ten geographies. Learn more about GHD and Aquanomics here.

Articles referenced

^{Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change 2021, ‘Chapter 8: Water cycle changes’, in Climate change 2021: The physical science basis, retrieved June 9, 2023, from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/chapter/chapter-8/}