The geography of future water challenges

This publication shows that, without improved water management or adaptation to climate change, the global sustainability goals cannot be achieved. The report highlights the urgent need for an integrated approach to limiting climate- and water-related risks. Using maps and info-graphics, The geography of future water challenges shows the water-related challenges of tomorrow, under a business-as-usual scenario.

Water is inextricably linked to sustainable developments and quality of life. The themes presented are food production, water quality and human health, flood risk, energy, ecological quality, and the interaction between water and migration and possible conflict risks. Water-related challenges are shown to be increasing, over the coming decades, due to a combination of population growth, economic development and climate change.

The report shows the urgent need for a coherent approach on a scale that is sufficiently large to cover the various problems and underlines the importance of collaboration between public parties to initiate solutions. The global landscapes in the search for integrated solutions will be the dryland regions, cities, transboundary river basins, coastal zones and deltas.

This publication was commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, in the context of the Dutch International Water Ambition. The publication was created in collaboration with Deltares, Utrecht University, Wageningen University and Research, VU University Amsterdam, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Clingendael Institute and Blueland.

Download the Documents (29 MB, PDF): http://www.pbl.nl/sites/default/files/cms/publicaties/pbl-2018-the-geography-of-future-water-challenges-2920.pdf