ALM UNDP

Summary:

Climate change is having a significant impact on water availability, quality, accessibility and demand in many contexts. These impacts are, in turn, affecting many other sectors such as agriculture, energy and health, seriously undermining development. The poorest people, who often live in the most fragile environments and are especially reliant on water- and climate-sensitive sectors, are highly vulnerable to climatic impacts. It is the poor who are being hit first and hardest.

Across the world, individuals, communities, the private sector and governments need to adapt to the impacts of climate change, not least the impact on water resources. While the process of adaptation to changes in climate is not new, the pace of change and the scale of impacts, including through extreme events, are unprecedented.

Tearfund believes that climate risk-based approaches, which address climate variability and climate change, need to be integrated within water policy frameworks. Therefore, this document aims to provide guidance on how resilience and adaptation can be integrated into national-level policy and programmatic planning in the water sector.

The guide has been produced for use by developing country governments. We suggest that water ministry officials take the lead in this process, working with a range of other stakeholders. The guide aims to be practical and pragmatic and is based on existing conditions in terms of areas such as knowledge, skills, capacity and observed climate change impacts and risks. It also draws on other tools, approaches and experiences, so as to complement existing work while also filling gaps. This guide is also for donor institutions wishing to support the integration of adaptation through development cooperation, as well as for civil society organisations as they contribute to national policy processes and ensure that the voices of the poorest and most vulnerable people impact decision-making.