Climate change is a reality

Climate change is a reality. Demographic trends and economic growth outlooks, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia point at acceleration of global warming. Climate-related extremes, especially floods and droughts, are increasing in frequency and intensity affecting livelihoods and the economy.

Today, water and climate related risks affect decisions on where and how companies invest and operate, whereto people migrate, where governments and investors buy land, and on how to use the land. New and innovative solutions and approaches such as circular economies, smart cities, building with nature, and more efficient and sustainable use of energy, land and water are being tried to face the challenges and make risks manageable.

In this process of transformation, collective efforts to deal with future under different scenarios are essential. As such it is important to think and share thoughts and insights about what might happen in order to try and deal strategically with uncertainties and risks.

Higher political priority for adaption to climate change

Competition for land and water is already fierce and more conflicts will occur especially in countries with poor governance. Loss of environmental resources will not stop, but investments in preserving and restoring nature will increase.

Sea level rise, news about local and regional water and environmental crises, as well as reports on damage caused by extreme weather will alert more people about the need to change systems and behaviour, and make various groups, communities and entrepreneurs join initiatives in their localities.

Driven by demands from civil society, communities as well as private companies, higher political priority will be given to adaptation and building resistance to climate changes.

A need for a balanced approach

Large companies, international finance institutions and governments still believe that economic growth in combination with technology will bring solutions. Policies, programmes and projects causing accelerated climate change, polluting water and land, and destructing ecosystems continue to be the rule rather than the exception.

Other forces aim at a radical, quick shift to a low carbon economy without giving society time to adjust. These are driven by ideology, lack of perspective and uncertainty.

A balanced approach is needed to find viable solutions.

For this, different stakeholders need to become more knowledgeable. Politicians, journalists, and citizens need to acquire a basic understanding of the complexities of water management, governance, global warming and climate change. This can help establish favourable conditions for, and build momentum amongst- local communities, authorities and private enterprises when addressing the water and climate challenge.

Multilevel water governance at scale

Multiplication of local initiatives to build resilience can potentially reverse the current trends, and contribute to finding new balances as the processes of transformation move upwards from local (municipal, city, delta, watershed) levels to higher (basin, regional, national, transboundary) levels. If successful, these processes can result in better water and climate policies, and in multilevel water governance at scale.

Strategies to develop resilience to climate change have to fit the context and can use combinations of approaches such monitoring the implementation of water governance, building water stewardships, setting up thematic groups or learning alliances, building evidence for advocacy, and campaigning.