Climate Variability and Change: Impacts On Water Availability†

Abstract

AbstractClimate change adaptation is an important issue for water and food security but also to sustainable development in the future. How the weather and climate elements will change in the future under climate change conditions will determine the long‐term sustainability of water supplies for food production in many areas. Therefore, it is critical to address the issue of climate variability and change on the impacts on water availability. This paper highlights the following topics: latest scientific understanding on climate change; efforts being made by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) through its network of National Hydrological and Meteorological Services in delivering science based services; establishment of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) which has been established by the WMO in collaboration with other international agencies to provide climate information and services; and need for broader collaboration and cooperation among different development sectors at global as well as regional and national levels. ICID and its members were urged to establish linkages at the global, regional and national levels to ensure that climate information and services reach their audiences for the betterment of humanity. It was stressed that the various ICID and WMO communities can make a difference by working together. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.