What does a climate change future hold for our water resources and infrastructure? Update February 2011

Water is a precious commodity.  It is essential to sustain life but has no substitutes.  It is used for a broad range of purposes including for agriculture, household and recreational use, industry and environmental activities.

While demand for water continues to escalate in line with increasing population, our finite water resources are being depleted at an alarming rate.  Climate change is likely to further reduce these resources, particularly in Australia.  Indeed, projections about the impact of climate change in this country include increasing temperatures, reducing rainfall, increasing evaporation and increasing frequency and severity of drought.  These physical phenomena are also likely to pose significant challenges for water infrastructure.

In this paper, which we have prepared in collaboration with Hyder Consulting, we:

• explain the physical impact that climate change may have on the water sector, including water resources and water infrastructure.
• discuss how we can adapt to these physical impacts.
• explain the water sector’s contribution to climate change and identify the ways in which the emissions caused by the water sector can be reduced, including particular policies and regulations that encourage reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in this sector.

To view full update, please download PDF.