Introduction to the special issue on the impact of climate change on water in the UK

Abstract

There is widespread, if sometimes tacit, agreement that action is needed to anticipate and adapt to future changes in hydrological conditions that have consequences for water supply (e.g. Charlton and Arnell, 2011; Dessai and Hulme, 2007), floods (e.g. Prudhomme et al., 2010; Thorne et al., 2007) and management and protection of the water environment (e.g. Ormerod, 2009; Wilby et al., 2010). However, practical adaptation actions seem scarce: Charlton and Arnell (2011: 247) observe, in an assessment of UK water supply plans, that ‘there is an air of ambivalence towards the impacts [of climate change]’ and that in many cases ‘climate change simply seems to disappear from the important discussions in the options appraisals’. The UK Adaptation SubCommittee, part of the statutory Climate Change Committee, finds that ‘current levels of investment . . . will not keep pace with the increasing risks of flooding’ (ASC, 2012: 80) and that ‘suggested measures to increase [water] supply and reduce demand . . . only meet a low and midrange level of climate risk’ (p. 81). So what prevents or slows progress on climate change adaptation in the water sector? Fankhauser et al. (1999) argue that anticipatory adaptation requires foresight and planning, which is improved by reliable information on climate change and its impacts. Communities may be best placed to understand their own exposure and vulnerability to climate change, but need the support of researchers and scientists to help them understand the changing risk (Smit and Wandel, 2006). Moser and Ekstrom (2010) view a lack of resources, including information and technical resources, as one of the common barriers to adaptation, although they caution that providing more science resources will not necessarily lead to more action unless resources are also found for the necessary adaptation actions themselves. While good information about the possible impact of climate change will not, on its own, make adaptation happen, it seems that a lack of appropriate information may act as a significant barrier to effective adaptation. This special issue addresses this possible barrier to climate change adaptation: the availability of reliable, clear information about the possible impacts of climate change on hydrology and the