3. Summary for Policymakers
Climate Change and Land
An IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land
degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and
greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems
WG I WG II WG III WG I WG II
The Ocean and Cryosphere
in a Changing Climate
This Summary for Policymakers was formally approved at the Second Joint Session
of Working Groups I and II of the IPCC and accepted by the 51th Session of the IPCC,
Principality of Monaco, 24th September 2019
Summary for Policymakers
4. Figure ES.4. Global GHG emissions under different scenarios and the emissions gap by 2030
EmissionsGapReport2019
2°C
range
1.8°C
range
1.5°C
range
Turquoise area shows
pathways limiting global
temperature increase to
below 2°C with
about 66% chance
Green area shows pathways
limiting global temperature
increase to below 1.5°C
by 2100 and peak below
1.7°C (both with 66% chance)
Current policy scenario
Cond.NDCcase
Uncond.NDCcase
Cond.NDCcase
Uncond.NDCcase
Remaining gap
to stay within
2°C limit
Remaining gap
to stay within
2°C limit
Remaining gap
to stay within
1.5°C limit
Conditional
NDC scenario
Unconditional NDC scenario
15GtCO2e
32GtCO2e
29GtCO2e
Median
estimate
of level
consistent
with 2°C:
41 GtCODže
(range 39-46)
Median estimate
of level consistent
with 1.5°C:
25 GtCODže
(range 22-31)
2005-Policies scenario
Current policy scenario
Conditional NDC scenario
Unconditional NDC scenario
2005-Policies scenario
2°C
range
1.8°C
range1.5°C
range
GtCO2e
12
20
30
40
50
60
70
2015 2020 2025 2030
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
GtCOǖe
(median estimate and 10th to 90th percentile range).
I
Emissions Gap Report 2019
Emissions Gap
Report 2019
5. P
oliticians, economists and even
some natural scientists have tended
to assume that tipping points1
in the
Earth system — such as the loss of
the Amazon rainforest or the West
Antarcticicesheet—areoflowprobabilityand
little understood. Yet evidence is mounting
thattheseeventscouldbemorelikelythanwas
thought,havehighimpactsandareintercon-
nected across different biophysical systems,
potentiallycommittingtheworldtolong-term
irreversible changes.
Herewesummarizeevidenceonthethreat
of exceeding tipping points, identify knowl-
edge gaps and suggest how these should
be plugged. We explore the effects of such
large-scale changes, how quickly they might
unfold and whether we still have any control
over them.
In our view, the consideration of tipping
points helps to define that we are in a climate
emergency and strengthens this year’s
chorus of calls for urgent climate action —
from schoolchildren to scientists, cities and
countries.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) introduced the idea of tipping
points two decades ago. At that time, these
‘large-scale discontinuities’ in the climate
system were considered likely only if global
warming exceeded 5 °C above pre-industrial
levels. Information summarized in the two
most recent IPCC Special Reports (published
in2018andinSeptemberthisyear)2,3
suggests
that tipping points could be exceeded even
between1and2 °Cofwarming(see‘Tooclose
forcomfort’).
Ifcurrentnationalpledgestoreducegreen-
house-gas emissions are implemented — and
that’s a big ‘if’ — they are likely to result in at
least 3 °C of global warming. This is despite
the goal of the 2015 Paris agreement to limit
warmingtowellbelow2 °C.Someeconomists,
Thegrowingthreatofabrupt
andirreversibleclimate
changesmustcompel
politicalandeconomic
actiononemissions.
Climatetippingpoints—
tooriskytobetagainst
Timothy M. Lenton, Johan Rockström, Owen Gaffney, Stefan Rahmstorf,
Katherine Richardson, Will Steffen & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
assuming that climate tipping points are of
very low probability (even if they would be
catastrophic),havesuggestedthat3 °Cwarm-
ingisoptimalfromacost–benefitperspective.
However, if tipping points are looking more
likely,thenthe‘optimalpolicy’recommenda-
tionofsimplecost–benefitclimate-economy
models4
aligns with those of the recent IPCC
report2
. In other words, warming must be
limited to 1.5 °C. This requires an emergency
response.
Icecollapse
We think that several cryosphere tipping
points are dangerously close, but mitigating
greenhouse-gas emissions could still slow
downtheinevitableaccumulationofimpacts
and help us to adapt.
Research in the past decade has shown
that the Amundsen Sea embayment of West
Antarcticamighthavepassedatippingpoint3
:
the‘groundingline’whereice,oceanandbed-
rock meet is retreating irreversibly. A model
studyshows5
thatwhenthissectorcollapses,it
coulddestabilizetherestoftheWestAntarctic
icesheetliketopplingdominoes—leadingto
about3metresofsea-levelriseonatimescale
of centuries to millennia. Palaeo-evidence
shows that such widespread collapse of the
WestAntarcticicesheethasoccurredrepeat-
edly in the past.
The latest data show that part of the East
Antarctic ice sheet — the Wilkes Basin —
might be similarly unstable3
. Modelling work
suggeststhatitcouldaddanother3–4 mtosea
level on timescales beyond a century.
The Greenland ice sheet is melting at an
accelerating rate3
. It could add a further 7 m
tosealeveloverthousandsofyearsifitpasses
a particular threshold. Beyond that, as the
elevation of the ice sheet lowers, it melts fur-
ther,exposingthesurfacetoever-warmerair.
Models suggest that the Greenland ice sheet
couldbedoomedat1.5 °Cofwarming3
,which
could happen as soon as 2030.
Thus, we might already have committed
future generations to living with sea-level
risesofaround10 moverthousandsofyears3
.
But that timescale is still under our control.
The rate of melting depends on the magni-
tude of warming above the tipping point. At
1.5 °C, it could take 10,000 years to unfold3
;
above2 °Citcouldtakelessthan1,000years6
.
592 | Nature | Vol 575 | 28 November 2019
Comment
An aeroplane flies over a glacier in the Wrangell St Elias National Park in Alaska.
Researchers need more observational data
toestablishwhethericesheetsarereachinga
tippingpoint,andrequirebettermodelscon-
strained by past and present data to resolve
how soon and how fast the ice sheets could
collapse.
Whatever those data show, action must be
takentoslowsea-levelrise.Thiswillaidadapta-
tion,includingtheeventualresettlingoflarge,
low-lying population centres.
A further key impetus to limit warming to
1.5 °C is that other tipping points could be
triggeredatlowlevelsofglobalwarming.The
latestIPCCmodelsprojectedaclusterofabrupt
shifts7
between1.5 °Cand2 °C,severalofwhich
involve sea ice. This ice is already shrinking
rapidlyintheArctic,indicatingthat,at2 °Cof
warming, the region has a 10–35% chance3
of
becominglargelyice-freeinsummer.
Biosphereboundaries
Climate change and other human activities
risktriggeringbiospheretippingpointsacross
arangeofecosystemsandscales(see‘Raising
the alarm’).
Ocean heatwaves have led to mass coral
bleaching and to the loss of half of the
shallow-water corals on Australia’s Great
BarrierReef.Astaggering99%oftropicalcorals
areprojected2
tobelostifglobalaveragetem-
perature rises by 2 °C, owing to interactions
betweenwarming,oceanacidificationandpol-
lution.Thiswouldrepresentaprofoundlossof
marinebiodiversityandhumanlivelihoods.
As well as undermining our life-support
system, biosphere tipping points can trigger
abruptcarbonreleasebacktotheatmosphere.
This can amplify climate change and reduce
remaining emission budgets.
Deforestation and climate change are
destabilizingtheAmazon—theworld’slargest
rainforest,whichishometooneintenknown
species.EstimatesofwhereanAmazontipping
pointcouldlierangefrom40%deforestation
to just 20% forest-cover loss8
. About 17% has
been lost since 1970. The rate of deforest-
ation varies with changes in policy. Find-
ing the tipping point requires models that
include deforestation and climate change as
interacting drivers, and that incorporate fire
and climate feedbacks as interacting tipping
mechanisms across scales.
With the Arctic warming at least twice
as quickly as the global average, the boreal
forest in the subarctic is increasingly vulner-
able. Already, warming has triggered large-
scale insect disturbances and an increase
“Theclearestemergency
wouldbeifwewere
approachingaglobal
cascadeoftippingpoints.”
FRANSLANTING/NAT.GEO.IMAGECOLLECTION
Nature | Vol 575 | 28 November 2019 | 593
ning to irreversibly thaw and release carbon
dioxideandmethane—agreenhousegasthat
isaround30timesmorepotentthanCO2 over
a 100-year period.
Researchers need to improve their under-
standing of these observed changes in major
ecosystems, as well as where future tipping
points might lie. Existing carbon stores and
potential releases of CO2 and methane need
better quantification.
The world’s remaining emissions budget
for a 50:50 chance of staying within 1.5 °C of
warmingisonlyabout500 gigatonnes(Gt)of
CO2.Permafrostemissionscouldtakeanesti-
mated20%(100 Gt CO2)offthisbudget10
,and
that’s without including methane from deep
permafrost or undersea hydrates. If forests
are close to tipping points, Amazon dieback
could release another 90 Gt CO2 and boreal
forests a further 110 Gt CO2 (ref. 11). With
global total CO2 emissions still at more than
40 Gt per year, the remaining budget could
be all but erased already.
Globalcascade
In our view, the clearest emergency would
be if we were approaching a global cascade
of tipping points that led to a new, less habit-
able, ‘hothouse’ climate state11
. Interactions
clima
of th
from
that e
can in
ers.S
inter
In
obse
is am
warm
ing a
Atlan
slowd
ofthe
latio
salt t
of th
down
West
in Af
AMO
East
upin
erate
Th
such
lion y
andf
2001 2007 2013 2018
Year of IPCC report
Globalmeansurfacetemperature(ºC)
1
2
3
4
5
6
0
Global average
temperature:
~1 ºC above
pre-industrial
levels
Level of risk
Very high
High
Moderate
Low
Undetectable
TOOCLOSEFORCOMFORT
Abrupt and irreversible changes in the
climate system have become a higher risk
at lower global average temperatures.
594 | Nature | Vol 575 | 28 November 2019
Researchers need more observational data
toestablishwhethericesheetsarereachinga
tippingpoint,andrequirebettermodelscon
strained by past and present data to resolve
how soon and how fast the ice sheets could
collapse.
Whatever those data show, action must be
takentoslowsea-levelrise.Thiswillaidadapta
tion,includingtheeventualresettlingoflarge
low-lying population centres.
A further key impetus to limit warming to
1.5 °C is that other tipping points could be
triggeredatlowlevelsofglobalwarming.The
“Theclearestemergency
wouldbeifwewere
approachingaglobal
cascadeoftippingpoints.”
m-
t-
e,
he
s).
he
at
ss
ly
’s
s-
on
es
an
.
en
ne
st
ne
er
is
te
si-
en
ng
and‘hothouse’climatestatesshouldincrease
confidenceintheirabilitytoforecastthese.
the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research, Germany. Owen Gaffney is a
Tipping points
Connectivity
RAISINGTHEALARM
Evidence that tipping points
are under way has mounted
in the past decade. Domino
effects have also been
proposed.
Wilkes Basin,
East Antarctica
Ice loss accelerating
Coral reefs
Large-scale die-offs
Permafrost
Thawing
Arctic sea ice
Reduction in area
Atlantic circulation
In slowdown since 1950s
West Antarctic ice sheet
Ice loss accelerating
Amazon rainforest
Frequent droughts
Boreal forest
Fires and pests
changing
Greenland ice sheet
Ice loss accelerating
SOURCE:T.M.LENTONETAL.
6. FLOODED FUTURE:
Global vulnerability
to sea level rise
worse than previously
understood
October 29, 2019
Report by
Climate Central
Flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 2017.
Source: World Meteorological Organization / Flickr
ARTICLE
New elevation data triple estimates of global
vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding
Scott A. Kulp1* & Benjamin H. Strauss 1
Most estimates of global mean sea-level rise this century fall below 2 m. This quantity is
comparable to the positive vertical bias of the principle digital elevation model (DEM) used to
assess global and national population exposures to extreme coastal water levels, NASA’s
SRTM. CoastalDEM is a new DEM utilizing neural networks to reduce SRTM error. Here we
show – employing CoastalDEM—that 190 M people (150–250 M, 90% CI) currently occupy
global land below projected high tide lines for 2100 under low carbon emissions, up from 110
M today, for a median increase of 80 M. These figures triple SRTM-based values. Under high
emissions, CoastalDEM indicates up to 630 M people live on land below projected annual
flood levels for 2100, and up to 340 M for mid-century, versus roughly 250 M at present. We
estimate one billion people now occupy land less than 10 m above current high tide lines,
including 250 M below 1 m.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12808-z OPEN
1 Climate Central, Palmer Square #402, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA. *email: skulp@climatecentral.org
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | (2019)10:4844 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12808-z | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 1
1234567890():,;
7. climate crisis is a water crisis
2018
wildfires California
typhoon Mangkhut Philipines
floods Japan
droughts Africa
11. Rising
temperatures
Desertification
Water consumption
2010 versus 2050 in km3
Source: Utrecht
University, PBL
2050
2010
Electricity
Industry
Households
IrrigationDeveloped
countries
Latin America
and Caribbean
North Africa,
the Middle East
and Russia
Sub-Saharan
Africa
South Asia and
East Asia Pacific
0 300 600 900 1200 1500
Agriculture uses the most
water, by far, with a water
use of more than 80%. In
particular, in South and East
Asia, agricultural production
heavily depends on irrigation.
Groundwater
abstraction
Groundwater
depletion
Agri-
culture Industry and
power plants
Urbanisation HouseholdsShrinking
lakes
300 million
Rural population 2050
Arid
Semi-arid
Dry sub-humid
Humid
Dryland areas are
the most vulnerable
Drylands’ rural
population and food
production will
especially be affected
by changes in water
availability, as a result
of climate change.
Source: PBL
Abstraction
for irrigation
Challenges
Climate change, which brings
higher average temperatures and
changing precipitation patterns,
combined with increasing compe-
tition for water resources, may
result in substantial increases in
the number of people living
under severe water stress.
Between now and 2050, global
water consumption is expected
to increase by 25%, due to the
growing number of households,
the growth in industrial produc-
tion and agricultural expansion
and intensification.
Growing water demand and
—in some regions— declining
precipitation will increase the
pressure on the available water
resources, resulting in high levels
of water stress in many regions.
Areas with increasing
water stress 2010–2050
Source: Utrecht University
No to low water stress
Increasing compe-
tition for water
Water stress may
have a negative
impact on agricultural
production and eco-
nomic development.
Moderate water stress
High water stress
Severe water stress
Water consumption is increasing, especially that of households
and industries. Agriculture will remain the largest user, though.
High levels of regional water stress may limit agricultural production.
WATER STRESS BY 2050
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 3130
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
13. Source: CRED
Ethiopia
2.5
million
China
16.5
million
India
17.5
million
Bangladesh
5
million
China
67
million
India
19
million
Flooding events
1996–2015
Flooding events lead
to casualties, result
in temporary dis-
placement out of
the area and high
economic losses
affecting both indus-
tries and households.
Number of
occurrences
100
Source: CRED
People annually
affected by drought
1996–2015
Droughts lead to
water scarcity for
people, severe agri-
cultural production
loss, local food
shortages, and
wildfires.
Number of people
affected, annually
10 million
Source: CRED
People annually
affected by flooding
1996–2015
Flooding occurs all
over the world, but
the majority of the
people affected live
in Southeast Asia.
Number of people
affected, annually
35 million
Drought occurrences
1996–2015
Droughts occur on
all continents, but
predominantly in the
southern hemisphere.
Number of
occurrences
10
Source: CRED
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
DROUGHTS AND FLOODS
The impact of too much waterThe impact of too little water
1716 THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 1 SETTING THE SCENE
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
14. Global
Population
growth
Young adults
population
growth
Urban
population
growth
The Bangladesh Government
expects to have 20 million
migrants around 2050, if the
worst-case sea level rise
scenarios become a reality.
Small islands in
the Pacific Ocean
are particularly
vulnerable to sea
level rise.
Moderate
High
Very high
Potential levels of migration
Hotspots of potential
migration due to
1 metre sea level rise
People living below sea level + 1 metre
Drylands Rest of the worldGlobal population distributionStrong population
growth and urbanisation
in drylands
The population growth
rate in drylands exceeds
the global rate. The dryland
population is projected to
grow from 2.7 billion today
to over 4 billion by 2050, an
increase of 40% to 50%.
Source: PBL
Potential levels of migration
Dryland hotspots of
potential migration
associated with water
stress
Between 2000 and 2010,
an estimated 40 million
people migrated out of
drylands, mostly in South
America, Africa and Asia.
Moderate
High
Very high
No data
A high likelihood of water stress, strong population growth with
a large share of young adults, and low income per capita, can be
associated with water-stress-related migration. By 2050, these
factors may all affect migration in many Sub-Saharan dryland
regions.
Drylands African drylands
Millions of people live in coastal
areas within the reach of 1m sea
level rise. Sea level rise, therefore,
will eventually become a potential
driver of migration in areas without
the capacity to help people adapt.
Hotspots of migration may be found
especially in Southeast Asia, the
Small Island Developing States and in
Africa, based on projected coping
capacity and number of people at risk.
2015
2050
36%
64%
59%
41%
33%
2%
76%
42%
9%
96%
83%
64%
168%
Drylands compared
to global averages
Strong population growth,
especially in combination
with a large share of
young adults, affects
migration processes.
This is projected to be
particularly the case for
the African drylands.
Source: PBL
Source: PBL
Source: PBL
Migration from rural areas to cities is among other variables associated
with a lack of rural economic perspective, population growth and increased
water stress. For 2050, water availability and soil quality are particularly
expected to deteriorate in the drier and poorer areas of the world.
HOTSPOTS OF MIGRATION
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 7776
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
15. Somali refugees wait outside a UNHCR processing center at a
refugee camp outside Dadaab, eastern Kenya, on Aug. 5, 2011.
Climate change contributed to low rain levels in East Africa in 2011,
making global warming one of the causes of Somalia's famine.
Somali refugees displaced from their homes by floods cross a
swollen river in Kenya
16. Challenges
As urban areas expand, trillions of dollars worth
of infrastructure, industrial plants, office buildings
and homes will be increasingly at risk of flooding.
Latin
America
and Caribbean
Annual economic damage
in billion USD
Annually exposed population,
in millions
North Africa,
the Middle East
and Central Asia
Developed
countries
South Asia
and East
Asia Pacific
Sub-
Saharan
Africa
2010
2050
2050 contribution due to climate change
Between now and
2050, the focal point
of economic damage
will shift to Asia.
9
1.4
2.0
35
8
2.1
2.9
30
9
1.4
1.7
93
19
28.1
43.3
215
4
5.7
15.1
33
Most of the people at risk live in
developing countries, especially
in the South Asia and East Asia
Pacific regions. Their numbers
will increase.
Source: Deltares, IVM
1,450 million
people at risk in
developing countries
200 million people at
risk in developed
countries
2050
Source: PBL
Risks for people are unequally distributed
While the developed countries will face
most of the economic damage, the majority
of people at risk live in developing countries.
2010 2050
Millions of people
are living in flood-
prone areas
Deltas
Coastal
zones
Rivers
Source: PBL
1,095
1,650
People living in
flood-prone areas
2010–2050: The
Business-as-usual
scenario projects a
30% increase in the
number of people
potentially exposed
to flooding and a
threefold increase in
economic damage.
Many more people
are potentially
exposed to river
flooding than to
coastal flooding.
Soil
subsidence
Slums in
risky locations
Growing
economy
Extreme
precipitation
Disappearing
mangroves Sea level
rise
River
flooding
Storm surges and
coastal flooding
Flood risk increases mainly due to population
and economic development
Overall, more extreme precipitation will increase
the risk of river flooding. Without additional
flood protection and following the projected
strong increase in economic value in flood-prone
areas, the focal point of damage will shift to Asia.
In 2010, around 1 billion people around the world were living in flood-
prone areas, potentially exposed to either river or coastal flooding.
This number is projected to increase to over 1.6 billion by 2050.
STRONG INCREASE IN
POTENTIAL FLOOD RISKS
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 4746
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
18. Source: PBL
Cities and population
density, 2050
Cities 2010
Cities 2050
Inhabitants
(millions)
10
20
30
Population density
(number of people
per 30'' grid cell)
1–100
101–500
501–1,000
> 1,000
Source: PBL
Kinshasa will
grow from
7.8 million
to 28.3 million
inhabitants
By 2050 Mumbai
will be the biggest
city (31.6 million)
0 2,0002,000 4,0004,000 6,000
Delta
Coast
Drylands
Global
UrbanRural Millions
Strong population
growth in urban
areas
In deltas and drylands
the urban population
will almost double
2050
2010
Change in urban and
rural populations,
per type of area,
2010–2050
Fast urban growth,
more than doubling
city sizes, occurs
especially in the
developing countries
of East and South
Asia and Sub-Saharan
Africa.
URBANISATION CHANGES
GLOBAL VULNERABILITY
In the urbanising world, cities will increasingly become
centres of population growth and economic development.
By 2050, 70% of the world population is projected to live
in an urban environment, and the 600 major cities in the
world are expected to provide 60% of global GDP. The
global urban area is expected to expand by more than 70%,
not only in riparian and coastal areas and in deltas, but also
in water-stressed regions, such as drylands. By 2050, 70%
of the global population will be living on 0.5% of the global
land area.
The challenge of inclusive urban
development
Today, about one billion people
are living in urban slums. The
rapidly growing urban population
strongly increases the pressure on
local resources, local environmen-
tal conditions, food availability,
labour opportunities, and public
services. Reducing inequality, inse-
curity and poverty in cities may be
some of the major challenges, on
the path towards 2050.
Because of continued global urbanisation, water-related risks will
increasingly be concentrated in cities.
2120 THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 1 SETTING THE SCENE
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
Cities Flood Risk Hotspots
19. Rotterdam is #12 $ 82 B
global flood losses coastal cities will tenfold in 2050 US$52 billion / year
all losses global flood damage will cost US$1 trillion a year (OECD / WB)
20. Flood-prone urban population, in millions
Flood-prone rural population, in millions
Deltas
Coastal zones
Deltas
Coastal zones
2050 1,175305170
Most people potentially
exposed to flooding live
in cities along rivers.
Source: PBL
Built-up and flood-prone
areas in Mumbai
From 1990 to 2014, the
built-up area of Mumbai
expanded by 26%, with
a relatively large share of
the expansion in flood-
prone areas. This trend
is projected to continue
towards 2050, by which
time around 60% of
Mumbai will be located
in flood-prone areas.
If sea levels would rise
by one metre, the flood-
prone area would become
even larger and the num-
ber of people potentially
exposed would increase
further.
2010 114 182 799
Rivers
Rivers
0 100%
Safe up to 1990
Built-up area in km2
Flood-prone built-up area in km2
Safe 1990–2014
Safe 2014–2050
Safe 2014–2050 Flood-prone built-up area in case of 1m sea level rise
Source: JRC, PBL
Water
Built-up, up to 2014
Flood-prone area, 2050
2014–2050 Water
0 10 km
Global population growth will concentrate in cities
Globally, the population is increasingly concentrated in cities,
most of which are located near rivers or the coast. This trend is
projected to continue, between now and 2050. How flood risks
and protection of formal and informal settlements will develop,
depends on future flood-risk strategies.
Informal settlements
are the most exposed
In many cities, especially
in developing countries,
the inhabitants of infor-
mal settlements make
up more than 50% of the
urban population. Water-
and climate-related
disasters disproportion-
ately affect people living
in informal settlements.
The number of people in flood-prone areas in the developing world
is expanding rapidly. Without attention, flood protection inequality
between urban formal and informal settlements will increase.
Formal settlement
Built on landfill
Informal settlement
Built directly on the riverbed
RiverbedLandfill
UNEQUAL FLOOD
RISKS WITHIN CITIES
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 5150
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
21. Unsafe for
human health
Sewage
pipes not
separated
from storm
drains
Safe for
human
health
Threat to
aquaculture,
tourism,
fishery and
industry
No water
treatment
Water
pollution
Sewage
discharges to
surface water
Groundwater
pollution
Unsafe for riverine
ecosystems and
for human use
Local
farmland
Access to clean drinking water
Access to basic sanitation
Present situation, safe drinking
water and basic sanitation
Percentage of population
Developed
countries
Latin America
and the Caribbean
North Africa,
the Middle East
and Russia
Sub-Saharan
Africa
South Asia and
East Asia Pacific
Average number of deaths
per year, 1980–2015
x 1,000
0
20
40
60
80
100%
Source: CRED, WHO
Source: WHO, Unicef
75Conflicts
63Natural
disasters
780Unsafe water
Challenges
A century ago, the dominant
flow for nutrients was their
reuse in agriculture. Today,
nutrients mostly end up in
surface water. The increase in
nutrient emissions may lead to
algal blooms and deoxygenation,
affecting the ecological quality
as well as economic activities in
these waters, such as fisheries,
aquaculture and tourism.
Lack of access to clean drinking
water and lack of sanitation are
two of the major causes of human
illness and mortality. In combin-
ation, their impact leads to almost
800,000 human deaths, annually,
in low- and middle-income
countries. This is far more than
the number of annual casualties
from flooding, drought, or violent
conflict.
One in eight people in the world
have no access to clean drinking
water and almost one in three
lack basic sanitation facilities
Although access to clean drinking
water and sanitation facilities has
improved over the last decades,
large differences remain between
world regions. For instance,
although since 1990, 2.6 billion
people have gained access to
clean drinking water, today 660
million people are still without,
especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, at least 1.8 billion
people around the world use
a drinking water source that is
faecally contaminated. Improving
sanitation in Asian and African
countries is one of the major
challenges, for the coming decades.
In Africa, diseases such as diarrhoea
are mainly caused by contaminated
drinking water and poor sanitation,
and are responsible for over 10% of
infant mortality, which is 25times
higher than in developed countries.
Although major improvements have been made, globally,
one in eight people still lack access to clean drinking water,
and one in three lack adequate sanitation facilities.
DIRTY WATER: A THREAT
TO HUMAN HEALTH
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 3938
THE GEOGRAPHY OF
FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES
22. Agricultural production
in million tonnes
dry matter
per year
Agricultural
production
2010
Food and
feed crops
3 Mt
Grass and
fodder
3 Mt
Wood
1 Mt
Energy
crops
0 Mt
Agricultural
production
2050
Food and
feed crops
5 Mt
Grass and fodder
3 Mt
Wood
2 Mt
Energy
crops
2 Mt
Source: PBL
Groundwater
abstraction
Abstraction
for irrigation
Gap in crop yields
0–20%
20–40%
>40%
Source: Wageningen
University & Research
Gap in crop yields
rainfed agriculture,
by 2050
Water shortages
cause large yield
gaps in many areas
around the world.
Improved water
management may
increase crop yields
in rainfed agriculture,
by 40% to over 60%.
Gap in crop yields
0–20%
20–40%
>40%
Source: Wageningen
University & Research
Gap in crop yields
irrigated agriculture,
by 2050
Improved water
management may
also increase crop
yields in irrigated
agriculture.
Under the Business-as-usual scenario,
total agricultural production is expected
to increase by 70%, mainly due to more
food and feed production and more
energy crop production. These increases
are projected to be about 10% lower than
they would have been without climate
change. This is mostly due to water
shortages and too high temperatures.
Especially the agriculture in tropical and
subtropical regions are projected to be
affected.
Twenty percent of the global agricultural area
is irrigated, which represents 40% of the total
in agricultural production. The remaining area
(80%) fully depends on precipitation.
Water is a prerequisite for crop production.
Water shortages directly lead to reduced crop
production. In water-stressed areas, agricul-
tural production levels can be increased by
improving water management and increasing
water efficiency (‘more crop per drop’).
Without improved water management, rainfed and irrigated agriculture
are expected to experience substantial yield gaps by 2050.
LOW CROP YIELDS REQUIRE
WATER MANAGEMENT
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 3332
23. Potential in PWh
(per region)
0
0.25
0.75
0.50
1.00
Planned dams
(capacity in MW)
10,000
Technical potential
Economic potential
Ecological potential Source: PBL
Additional
hydropower
potential (PWh)
by 2050,
compared
with 2010
Planned hydropower
increase is especially
large in the Amazon river
basin, the Congo river
basin, the Yangtze basin
and the Himalayan river
basins.
Ecological requirements would
substantially lower hydropower
potential, in many places around
the world. This is especially the
case for the river systems of high
ecological quality of the Amazon
and Congo, where hydropower
potential would be close to zero
if ecological quality is to be pre-
served. If all economic potential
would be utilised, an estimated
8 million people could be at risk
of displacement.
In addition to the current 8600 larger dams,
primarily designed for hydropower, 3700
new dams are planned, each with more
than 1 MW capacity, over 500 of which are
already under construction.
PLANS FOR
3700 NEW DAMS
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 5958
24. Level of loss
in 2010
Decline in freshwater ecosystems with
high biodiversity levels (in 1000 km2)
Nutrient loading
to coastal seas, 2050
Absolute, x 1000 kg N
Nutrient loading, 2050
Relative
No outflow areasHigh Low
Loss by
2050
Remaining
in 2050
Canada United
States,
Mexico
Europe Central
and South
America
North
Africa,
Central
Asia
Russia Sub-
Saharan
Africa
South
and East
Asia
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2 ,000,000
In the coming decades, most losses are
expected to occur in the tropical and sub-
tropical zones in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin
and Central America and South and East Asia.
Catchment1,000,000
Quality of coastal
seas threatened
by increased
nutrient loading
The increase in nutrient
emissions, towards 2050,
will also result in an
increase in nutrient
loading to coastal
waters, especially in the
Asian region. This will
increase the risk of toxic
algal blooms and oxygen
depletion in those waters,
and will negatively affect
biodiversity (e.g. coral
reefs) and ecosystem
functions, such as aqua-
culture and fisheries.
Projected quality
of freshwater
ecosystems, 2050
In the sparsely populated northern regions,
the quality of freshwater ecosystems will
be least affected.
Source: PBL
Level of
original freshwater
biodiversity (%)
Low (0–20)
(20–40)
(40–60)
(60–80)
High (80–100)
No data
Under the Business-as-usual scenario, developments will
result in further biodiversity loss in nearly 40% of the
world’s freshwater ecosystems.
Decrease in freshwater
ecosystems with high levels
of biodiversity
Tropical regions include the most
biodiverse river basins. High-
quality ecosystems in these
regions, however, are already
severely affected and will further
decline in quality, between now
and 2050. The strongest decline in
quality is projected for Sub-
Saharan Africa and parts of Latin
America and Asia. In developed
regions, such as Europe, the
United States and Japan/Oceania,
most of the decline in quality has
already occurred. Overall, natural
biodiversity will be preserved in
less than 60% of the world’s
aquatic ecosystems, under the
Business-as-usual scenario.
Japan,
Oceania
World
x 10
Source: PBL
Source: PBL
FURTHER BIODIVERSITY
LOSS TOWARDS 2050
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FUTURE WATER CHALLENGES 2 MAPPING HOTSPOTS 6968
25. We are the turning point
Storm Intensity
Temperature Rise
Sea Level Rise
Urban Growth
210020501900 1950 20001850
We are here
28. What comes next is the massive task to undo these failing
actions, mitigate their origins, adapt for their impacts and rethink
the future and our responsibilities.
30. Storm Intensity
Temperature Rise
Sea Level Rise
Urban Growth
PRO-ACTIVE
From pre-crisis to
comprehensive solutions
RE-ACTIVE
From crisis to
temporary solutions
NON-RESPONSIVE
From crisis to crisis
Crisis
Temporary Solution
Comprehensive Solution
210020501900 1950 20001850
We are here
31. UNDERSTAND WATER
Commit to making evidence-based
decisions about water, and cooperate to
strengthen water data, such as through
the HLPW World Water Data
Initiative.
VALUE WATER
Use the HLPW Principles on
Valuing Water to sustainably,
efficiently, and inclusively allocate and
manage water resources and deliver
and price water services accordingly.
MANAGE WATER
Implement integrated approaches to
water management at local, national,
and transboundary levels, strengthen
water governance, and ensure gender
equality and social inclusion.
FOUNDATIONS FOR ACTION
s
Water
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8910
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Goals related to water
No poverty
Zero hunger
Good health
and well-being
Quality
education
Gender
equality
Clean water
and sanitation
Affordable and
clean energy
Decent work and
economic growthIndustry, innovation
and infrastructure
Reduced
inequalities
Sustainable cities
and communities
Responsible
consumption
and production
Climate
action
Life below
water
Life on land
Partnerships
for the goals
Peace, justice and
strong institutions
Group 1 targets:
New Urban Agenda
Make cities and human
settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient and sustainable
affecting water quality and biodiver-
human health and well-being, clean
n, food production, sustainable cities
nd the quality of ecosystems, water is
y also linked to many of the Sustain-
oals (SDGs). Improving the protection
d disasters is also covered under
ork for Disaster Risk Reduction. The
specifically concerns the sustainable
es and encompasses the water-related
art of the SDGs and the Sendai
Water
as
Leverage
33. 2018
Sustainable Development Goal 6
Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation
2018SustainableDevelopmentGoal6SynthesisReportonWaterandSanitation
The world is not on track to reach Sustainable Development Goal
6 (SDG 6) on Water and Sanitation by the deadline set for 2030.
Today, billions of people lack safe water, sanitation and handwashing
facilities.Ecosystemsandwatersourcesarebecomingmorepolluted,
and funding for water and sanitation services is inadequate. In
addition, governance and delivery systems are weak and fragmented.
UN-Water’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 Synthesis Report 2018
on Water and Sanitation builds on the latest data available for the
11 SDG 6 global indicators. Representing a joint position from the
United Nations family, the report offers guidance to understanding
global progress on SDG 6 and its interdependencies with other goals
and targets. It also provides insight into how countries can plan and
act to ensure that no one is left behind when implementing the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ISBN 978-92-1-101370-2
Cover_SR_2018_june_ok.indd 1 26/6/18 11:37
The time to act on SDG6 is now. The
world is not on track to achieve the global
SDG 6 targets by 2030 at the current rate
of progress.
UN Water Synthesis report, July 2018
the bulk is necessary: gaps for the
Agenda2030
34. we need transformative capacity, upwards tipping points for
sustainable development
leapfrog our way out, incremental change is not enough
A BLUE NEW DEAL
41. long term &
comprehensive
short term &
innovative
programmatic approach
&
institutional capacity
ppp funding &
accountability
inclusive
collaboration
research & planning & design
understand & value & manage
44. We aspire that, by 2063, Africa shall be a prosperous continent with
the means and resources to drive its own development, and where
African people have a high standard of living and quality of life, sound
health and well-being; Well educated citizens and skills revolution
underpinned by science, technology and innovation for a knowledge
society; Cities and other settlements are hubs of cultural and economic
activities, with modernized infrastructure, and people have access to all
the basic necessities of life including shelter, water, sanitation, energy,
public transport and ICT; Economies are structurally transformed to
create shared growth, decent jobs and economic opportunities for all…
(Agenda 2063 - The Africa We Want)
implementation
enabling
environment
/ capacity
PEOPLE
PROJECTS
> Collaboration
> Consistency
> Capacity building
> Commitment
> Cross-cutting
Invest in the process - we need millions to spend the billions (right)…
45. LOW PERFORMANCELIMITED
OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES
TIME
CONCEPT PHASE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
MAXIMIZED
OPPORTUNITIES
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Invest in the process - we need millions to spend the billions (right)…
Opportunity-Performance Curve. The economic production possibility curve (PPC) shows possible combinations of two goods
that can be produced with constant resources & technology, resulting in less production of it.
Similar dynamics take place in development: it is important to keep opportunities open as long as possible.
Delaying decisions too long can have a negative impact on the project if not managed right and recent studies show that the
proper management of these options & opportunities has a clear positive impact on the value of the project’s performance.
Investing more intensively in the concept phase and using that knowledge to actively engage in decision-making, guarantees a
more extensive performance rate during implementation.
49. The Netherlands - culture of living with water
Trade, negotiations and crafts, stubbornness, luck and faith.
Managing risks and uncertainties.
The Netherlands is made out of water
Below sea level: 26%
Liable to flooding: 59%
Above sea level: 29%
Outside the dykes: 3%
Meuse outside the dykes: 1%
County of Holland, 16th Century Woodcut by Sebastian Münster
50. Dijkenatlas - LOLA / NAI010
1122 - the first collabora:on started
in the Utrecht area, where 20
communi:es worked together on
the local embankment
52. Overview of OECD Principles on Water Governance
The OECD Principles on Water Governance are expected to contribute to improving the “Water
Governance Cycle” from policy design to implementation.
TRUST &
ENGAGEMENT
Clear
roles &
responsibilities
Capacity
Policy
coherence
Appropriate
scales within
basin systems
Regulatory
Frameworks
Data &
information
Financing
Innovative
governance
Trade-offs
across users,
rural and urban
areas, and
generations
Integrity &
Transparency
Monitoring
& Evaluation
Stakeholder
engagement
WATER
GOVERNANCE
The OECD Principles on Water Governance are expected to contribute to improving the “
Governance Cycle” from policy design to implementation.
The Water Governance Cycle
Source: Forthcoming, OECD Working Paper, 2015, Water Governance Indicators
Trade-offs
across users,
rural and urban
areas, and
generations
Stakeholder
engagement
WATER
GOVERNANCE
Formulation of
policies and
strategies
Implementation
Monitoring
Evaluation
From good water governance
To better water governance
Bridging
the gap
Assessing
the gaps
Indicators
Actions
Principles
New
instruments or
improvements
Watergovernance - OECD
56. Verenigde Staten
New York: advies over
resilience en klimaat,
samenwerking met
Rockefeller Foundation.
Verenigde Staten
Boston: samenwerking
voor klimaatadaptatie.
Verenigde Staten
Miami: samenwerking
helpen opzetten in de
regio, ook met Nederlandse
waterbedrijven en
universiteiten.
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Adviseur parlementaire
commissie na overstromin-
gen 2015 voor integrale
wateraanpak.
Argentinië
Samenwerking gericht op
de waterveiligheid (klimaat)
in de Parana Delta.
CanadaAdviseur resilience
Adviseur resilience voor
Toronto Waterfront en
economische diplomatie
voor de Nederlandse
watersector.
Verenigde StatenAdviseur
Betrokken bij Great Lakes
Initiative voor rights on
nature.
Verenigde StatenAdviseur
San Francisco: initiator en
jurylid Bay Area Resilient
by Design Challenge.
Verenigde StatenAdviseur
Los Angeles: samenwerking
met Frank Gehry voor
LA River Project.
Mexico
Samenwerking met de
regering voor resilient cities
en het mede opzetten van
een plan voor kustveilig-
heid met pilot in Cancun.
Panama
Samenwerking met de
locoburgemeester van
Panama City op het gebied
van disaster response,
water, klimaat en stedelijke
ontwikkeling.
Peru
Adviseur van de regering bij
aanpak overstromingen en
reconstruction by change,
economische diplomatie
met Nederlandse water-
bedrijven.
Chili
Adviseur van de regering
over water governance,
kennisuitwisseling en
vergroten waterbewustzijn,
economische diplomatie
met o.a. Deltares.
Verenigde StatenAdviseur
New Orleans: samen-
werking voor resilience
en waterveiligheid. Colombia
Adviseur van de
burgemeester van Bogota
over water, klimaat en stad.
Zuid-Afrika
Adviseur van de minister
over waterbeleid, met o.a.
Unie van Waterschappen,
economische diplomatie
met Nederlandse bedrijven
in waterdata.
Zuid-Afrika
Adviseur Kaapstad voor
stedelijke ontwikkeling en
water/klimaat.
Mozambique
Stedelijke ontwikkeling,
masterplanning, klimaat
en water, economische
diplomatie met Nederlandse
bedrijven in haven-
ontwikkeling.
Myanmar
Adviseur van de regering
en Yangon over water,
klimaat en verstedelijking,
Delta aanpak met andere
internationale partijen.
Singapore
Samenwerking op het
gebied van water, fellow van
Center for Liveable Cities,
economische diplomatie
Nederlandse watersector.
Australië
Internationale samenwer-
king en hulp bij opzetten
trilaterale samenwerking
in Zuidoost-Azië op het
gebied van water.
Vietnam
Adviseur van de regering
over Mekong Deltaplan.
Japan
Hulp bij opzetten van
samenwerking in
Zuidoost-Azië op het
gebied van water.
India
Adviseur van de stad
Chennai na overstromin-
gen, met o.a. Rockefeller
Foundation, Word Bank,
ADB, Deltares en Arcadis.
Egypte
Samenwerking op het
gebied van water, klimaat
en waterveiligheid
Middellandse Zeekust.
Bangladesh
Adviseur van de regering
over Bangladesh Delta Plan.
De waterdreigingsmeter laat
zien welke regio’s kwetsbaar
zijn voor watergerelateerde
rampen zoals droogte of
overstromingen. De meter is
samengesteld op basis van
de Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas.
hoog risico
laag risico
Natuurrampen in 2016
Landen met, soms ook
gewelddadige, politieke
conflicten die met water te
maken hebben.
Waterdreigingsmeter
Klimaatgerelateerde rampen
extreme temperaturen,
droogte, natuurbranden
Hydrologische rampen
Overstromingen, aard-
verschuivingen
Meteorologische rampen
Tropische stormen, tornado’s
en andere extreme stormen
Politieke conflicten
57. POLICY PERSPECTIVES
OECD ENVIRONMENT POLICY PAPER NO. 11
Financing water
Investing in sustainable growth
THE ROUNDTABLE ON FINANCING WATER. 15
1
Estimating
investment needs
Estimating capacity
to finance
Typology of
investments in
water security
Typology of
financ ers
2 3
Mapping and
estimating
n n in
o
Analysing
po i i t t
ff t investment
o
P o otin
p t ys and
pp o
t t f i it t
investment
3 pillars for action
B ended finance
Approaches to
valuing the
benefits o ater
invest ents
Long-term
strategic planning
to facilitate
investment
Policies that help
or hinder
invest ent flo s
Policies that spur
innovation
The role of
information in
stimulating
demand for
investment
oun t on
in n in ater
58. Delta Coalition - launched at UNISDR
Sendai DRR Conference March 2015
The Netherlands, Japan,
Colombia, Philippines,
Vietnam, Bangladesh,
France, Korea, Egypt,
Indonesia, Myanmar,
Mozambique, Argentina, …
65. Dutch River Region
4 million
Rural
Just above
EUR 2.3
billion
Extremely high water levels. That
is the greatest challenge the river
region in the Netherlands faces
today. In 1993 and 1995, water
levels in the Netherlands reached
a critical level, weakening the
dikes to the point of collapse. A
quarter of a million inhabitants
had to be evacuated, along with
one million cattle. As heavy rainfall
is becoming more common – and
will become even more so in the
future – the Dutch government is
continually working on ensuring
the safety of the river regions
through programmes such as Room
for the River.
Reinforcing dikes is not an adequate
solution. In order to drain excess
water into the sea, measures must
also include widening and deepening
rivers. At more than 30 locations,
the Room for the River Programme
allows rivers more space, for
example by moving dikes, digging
secondary channels and deepening
flood plains.
The Room for the River Programme
uses a globally innovative approach
to protect areas against river
flooding. Giving the river more room
not only protects the river regions
from floods but also improves the
overall quality of the area, with
new nature and recreational areas
as an added bonus. In short, an
integrated approach improves
both safety and spatial quality.
Multiple Dutch partners including
central government, and local
provinces, municipalities and water
boards, companies and NGOs
are implementing the Room for
the River Programme. This close
cooperation between national and
regional governments ensures
support and reduces the risk
of delays.
Room for the River is a pilot
programme for the Dutch Delta
Programme, which is designed to
prepare the Netherlands for extreme
natural events. The main objective
of this programme is to make water
safety and freshwater supplies
sustainable and predictable by 2050.
The Dutch Delta approach is based
on five Ds: Delta Act, Delta Fund,
Delta Commissioner, Delta Decisions
and Delta Programme. The so-called
Delta Decisions, for example guide
the concrete approach to the Rhine-
Meuse delta with regard to water
storage and drainage, and the need
for new dams or dikes.
www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/english
THE NETHERLANDS
ROOM FOR THE RIVER
Integrated approach
governance and cooperatIon
wIth stakeholders
12
66. Bangladesh Delta
155 million
Rural,
with several rapidly
urbanising cities
Just above
EUR
7.65 million
Bangladesh, encompassing
the Ganges-Brahmaputra-
Meghna river systems,
can in many respects be
considered one of the
most dynamic deltas in
the world. Huge amounts
of water and sediment
often exceed the carrying
capacity of Bangladesh’
rivers. Cyclones and coastal
floods, intensified by climate
change effects, and a range
of socio-economic trends,
pose additional challenges.
The Bangladesh Delta Plan
2100 (BDP2100) attempts
to address these issues
by developing a long term,
holistic delta vision and
adaptive strategy.
Amongst socio-economic
trends are a rapidly increasing
population and a growing
demand for food. The already
high pressure on available
land adds to the complexity of
water-related problems
in the Bangladesh Delta, which
all need to be addressed in
order to support sustainable
living conditions and continued
economic growth.
The Bangladesh Delta Plan
aims to deliver an umbrella
development vision, strategy
and implementation plan
that can act as a frame
of reference for new
governmental policy, thereby
supporting the integration of
existing sectoral development
plans. At the same time it
aims to provide anchorage
for numerous on-going
projects and no-regret
measures to delta challenges
in the short term.
A range of stakeholders is
involved in an interactive
manner, ensuring the
necessary institutional
support for the development
and implementation of the
programme. BDP2100 links
with the Five Year investment
plans, which are coordinated
by the Government of
Bangladesh. Importantly, the
Bangladesh Delta Plan will
build on insights from the
Dutch Delta Programme and
the Mekong Delta Plan.
www.bandudeltas.org
BANGLADESH
INTEGRATED DELTA PLANNING
long-term approach vs.
short-term measures
cooperatIon wIth other
government levels and
stakeholders
Integrated approach
13
67. Nile Delta
10 million
Urban
and rural
Just above
EUR 2.4
million
The Nile delta is heavily
populated, with up to 1,600
inhabitants per square kilometre.
The Nile delta coastal zone
encompasses more than 40%
of Egypt’s industries and hosts
vital centres for tourism,
agriculture and fish farms. By
the year 2075, a coastal area of
about 500 km2
will be vulnerable
to flooding. The sandy barrier,
separating the inland lakes from
the sea, is very narrow and low
lying, presently subject to strong
erosion.
A UNDP report on climate change
impacts estimates that hundreds
of billions of Egyptian pounds,
about 2 to 6% of future gross
domestic product, could be lost
from effects of climate change
on water resources, agriculture,
coastal resources and tourism.
Thousands could die from air
pollution and heat stress. Millions
could lose jobs in agriculture as
the result of climate change. In a
middle scenario of sea-level rise,
about 40 km2
of agricultural land
will be lost by the year 2060.
The Egyptian-Dutch High Level
Water Panel, established 38
years ago, addresses these very
urgent coastal zone challenges.
Dialogues, knowledge exchange
sessions and preparatory studies
led to a public procurement for
the development of an Integrated
Coastal Zone Management
strategy (ICZM) and a shoreline
management plan for the
Egyptian Mediterranean Coast
from the Libyan border to the
Gaza border. It should recognise,
incorporate and address the
concerns of all stakeholders
through a well-defined and
structured participatory
approach.
Next to the tremendous natural
challenges there are also a
number of institutional and legal
challenges. The institutional
framework for addressing
responsibilities in Egypt is
complex and sometimes unclear.
Cooperation among agencies is
limited. The ICZM strategy must
incorporate all required legislative
and institutional changes that
would facilitate the adoption, buy-
in, and seamless development and
implementation. The project, with
a total budget of EUR 2.4 million,
will be funded by Europeaid and
should start by the end of 2014
and be finished within 30 months.
EGYPT
NILE DELTA NEEDS A SHORELINE MASTER
fInance and ImplementatIon
Integrated approach
legIslatIon and
depolItIsatIon
governance and cooperatIon
wIth stakeholders
15
68. Ayeyarwady
Delta
6.6 million
+3 m
Rural
The Ayeyarwady Delta in
Myanmar is extremely fertile.
The area, which is plagued by
floods, salinity and erosion,
can play an important role in
the economic development of
this Southeast Asian country.
The first step is to assess the
vulnerabilities and, in particular,
the resilience of the delta.
At about three metres above sea
level, the
delta’s sediment plays a dominant
role in the large-scale cultivation
of rice. The delta region is densely
populated and is dotted with
fishing communities in villages
and market towns,
mostly located along the rivers
and streams.
That is why the destruction
caused by Cyclone Nargis in May
2008 was so catastrophic, causing
nearly 140 thousand casualties
and severe economic damage.
Myanmar has asked the
Netherlands to take the lead
in drawing up an adaptive,
integrated water management
plan for both the delta and
the rest of the country to cope
with Myanmar’s expected huge
economic growth and increasing
pressure on water resources as
a result of this. Delta Alliance
Partners Deltares and Alterra
are conducting a Vulnerability
and Resilience Assessment
Ayeyarwady Delta study, which
is financed by the Global Water
Partnership (GWP) and Bay of
Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem
(BOBLME).
The Ayeyarwady Delta is
currently still, for the most part,
underdeveloped. Uncoordinated
exploitation of its resources in
some areas may pose serious
threats to the health of the
delta. Effective, cross-sectoral
management of the water system,
in which local stakeholders are
involved, will lead to sustainable
solutions in the long term. The
list of problems may seem long:
Mangroves are cut down for fuel,
there is overfishing, river bank
erosion and deterioration of water
quality as a result of salinisation.
However, by applying Integrated
Water Resources Management
(IWRM), the delta can be used
by the local people without
compromising the integrity of
these systems or overexploiting
their natural resources.
MYANMAR
MAKING USE OF THE RESILIENCE OF
THE DELTA
Integrated approach
sustaInabIlIty, flexIbIlIty,
solIdarIty
supported analysIs
17
69. Beira
0.6 million
Urban
Just above
Approx. EUR 2 million
Beira and Rotterdam: two
low-lying cities in densely
populated deltas with
ports serving a massive
hinterland. People keep
flocking to Mozambique’s
seaport and settling in
low-lying areas that are
not fit for habitation.
Waterborne diseases,
especially malaria, are
rampant and the city’s
infant mortality rate is
dramatically high. What
can Beira learn from its
Dutch counterpart?
Focusing solely on water
safety and water supply
in these neighbourhoods
means you are only
addressing part of the
problem. In addition
to water safety, the
integrated approach of
the Beira Master Plan
2035, which has been
commissioned by the
Beira Municipality and
drawn up in consultation
with all stakeholders in
the city, aims to stimulate
both land development
and economic growth.
One important insight
and result gained during
the development process
of the Beira Master Plan
is the need for a public-
private Land Development
Company (LDC).
A company responsible for
site preparation and for
allocating suitable parcels
of land for housing and
business purposes. The
Beira Municipality drew
up the master plan in
association with a Dutch
consortium, aided by
funding from the Dutch
Global Water programme.
The establishment of
the LDC, again with help
from the Netherlands, is
currently underway.
The next step is preparing
land development
business cases aimed
at generating concrete
investment projects.
At the request of the
Beira Municipality, Dutch
experts will remain
actively involved. Detailed
financial engineering and
the inclusion of crucial
development partners
will be the next step
after that.
MOZAMBIQUE
A MASTER PLAN FOR BEIRA
Integrated approach,
fInance and ImplementatIon
cooperatIon wIth other
government levels and
stakeholders
18
70. Vistula and Oder
Delta
2 million
Urban
and rural
-1.8 m to +2.5 m
Poland is a country of water,
although it does not have a
reputation as such. Almost
all major Polish cities are
located by the sea or a river
and are directly influenced
by water. Sometimes, as is
the case with the Vistula and
Oder Rivers, which run from
the mountains in the south
to the Baltic Sea and the low-
lying, flat deltas in the north,
the influence of water is too
great. The one-dimensional
river system set up in the
past is highly susceptible to
flooding.
In the last century,
various Polish rivers were
canalised and subsequently
poorly maintained. Water
management was considered
an architectural problem,
with concrete as the solution.
Little attention was paid to the
natural behaviour of rivers,
resulting today in flooding
problems causing annual flood
damages of up to EUR 3 billion
in 2010 alone. In addition, cities
such as Warsaw and Cracow
are unable to exploit the social,
economic and ecological
potential of their rivers to
the full.
Awareness that things can
and must change is gaining
ground in Poland, which is
also being affected by climate
change. Economically, the
Central European country is
doing well. Poland is reaping
the fruits of EU membership,
also in terms of knowledge
exchange. There are valuable
lessons to be learned from the
Netherlands and the Dutch
Delta Programme in terms of
its holistic, integrated approach
to spatial planning and water
management.
In the coming years, aided
by Dutch knowledge and
innovation and European
funding, efforts will focus
on ensuring water safety in
the form of infrastructure,
retention and limiting building
in areas susceptible to flooding.
This alternative approach will
make room for nature while
creating opportunities for
tourism, recreation and nature
development, both in flood
plains and on city shores.
POLAND
WATER KNOWLEDGE HAS
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
Integrated approach
cooperatIon wIth other
government levels and
stakeholders
fInance and ImplementatIon
19
71. Mekong Delta
17 million
(expected shrink to 15 or
growth to 30 million)
Urbanisation 28%
Greater parts + 1.5 m
In the past decades, the Mekong
Delta, with its rich land and
water resources, successfully
developed into the granary of
the country and turned Vietnam
into one of the leading rice
exporters globally. On the other
hand, the economic development
of the delta lags behind other
regions in the country. In its
present state, the Mekong
Delta is very vulnerable. Floods,
droughts and salinity are
dominant problems, hampering
a prosperous and sustained
economic development.
Inspired by the experiences in the
Netherlands, the Government of
Vietnam expressed the strong
intention to work towards a
Mekong Delta Plan for a safe,
prosperous and both economically
and environmentally sustainable
development of the delta. It
presents a vision to use the
comparative advantages of the
delta and focus on agro-business
industrialisation. Organisation of
the agricultural producers enables
a better position to reduce
transaction costs, platforms
for more sustainable land and
water resources management,
improvement of product quality
and competitiveness.
Diversification over the provinces
is necessary to adapt as much
as possible to available land
and water resources. Important
examples are a saline coastal
zone with room for aquaculture
integrated with mangrove
restoration and in the upper delta
controlled flooding with water
retention and fish farming in the
flood season instead of a third rice
crop. Still, large-scale measures
to guarantee flood protection
and fresh water availability may
be required when climate change
causes persisting sea level rise
and droughts.
The plan offers an assessment
framework for government,
donors and international financial
institutions for moving from
planning to implementation. The
plan enjoys broad support –
from the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank, the United
Nations and countries such as
Australia and Germany.
VIETNAM
MEKONG DELTA PLAN: LONG-TERM
VISION AND STRATEGY
Integrated approach
sustaInabIlIty, flexIbIlIty,
solIdarIty
supported analysIs
cooperatIon wIth other
government levels and
stakeholders
20
72. Upper valley of the Cauca
River
4,5 million
Rural and urban
+1,000 to +1,200 m
Approx. EUR
2.5 million
Inundation in the Cauca Valley
has caused major socio-
economic damage. As the valley
is an important agricultural
region representing the heart of
Colombia’s sugarcane industry,
flooding also affects Colombia’s
national economy. The challenge
is to limit the risk of flooding from
the river and tackle the problem
of insufficient drainage while
paying sufficient attention to river
ecology recovery. This requires
balancing the interests of a large
number of stakeholders.
Due to the flat nature of the Cauca
Valley, the area suffers from fre-
quent flooding, the last of which
occurred in 2011. The ministry, the
local councils and the farmers own-
ing land adjacent to the river are all
responsible for flood safety, which
makes the process of reaching
agreements far from easy.
The economic interests of
the sugarcane farmers are great. To
strike the right balance between the
desired level of safety and
a healthy river ecosystem it is
vital that all stakeholders participate
in the development and implemen-
tation of a flood risk management
plan.
The Regional Autonomous Corpora-
tion of the Cauca Valley (CVC) plays
a central role in this initiative. With
support from a Dutch consortium,
CVC experts analyse present water
safety levels and assess the effects
of potential measures.
They draw up a master plan using
the experience from the Dutch
Room for the River Programme.
This includes an active participation
of stakeholders and an integrated
approach.
Dutch experience has shown that
stakeholders need to be involved
in an active and timely manner. It
is important to provide the right
level of detail during the develop-
ment process, moving from general
concepts to concrete actions. Ulti-
mately, the individual landowners
and local councils are responsible
for the implementation of structural
or physical measures. The CVC can
assist in the implementation of non-
structural measures such as subsidy
programmes, training programmes,
regulation and enforcement. The
project also includes searching
for funding from external sources,
such as the World Bank or the Inter-
American Development Bank.
COLOMBIA
BALANCING INTERESTS AROUND
THE CAUCA RIVER
Integrated approach
cooperatIon wIth other
government levels and
stakeholders
fInance and ImplementatIon
supported analysIs
21
73. North East
region USA
NYC 9.5 million,
New Jersey 8.8 million
Urban
2.5
metres (lowest point NYC)
USD 930
million
Hurricane Sandy painfully clarified
the implications of climate change
for the north-eastern region of
the United States, exposing the
vulnerabilities of the area. Since
then the affected region has not
just been rebuilt, but solutions are
being sought that are in line with
the natural and socio-economic
characteristics of the region. Not
a plan, but a culture change.
In the autumn of 2012, 650,000
homes and hundreds of thousands of
companies in the largest metropolis
of the nation were damaged or
destroyed. In response, President
Obama appointed the Hurricane Sandy
Rebuilding Task Force in order to
deliver aid, help and respond effectively
and coordinate the rebuilding of the
New York – New Jersey region. To
become more resilient to climate
change the Sandy Task Force, together
with philanthropy, set up an ambitious
project: Rebuild By Design (RBD).
After Hurricane Sandy revealed
alarming infrastructural, environmental
and social vulnerabilities, RBD
assembled 10 teams (out of 148) of
architects, engineers, planners and
environmental scientists to undertake
a regional research-intensive design
process, identifying environmental
concerns and developing strategies
that will have a significant impact on
the region and its communities. RBD
is positioned not just to rebuild after
the storm, but also to design a more
sustainable and resilient region over
the long term.
The designs combine innovation
and regional strategy with location-
specific, customised solutions. Each
design team is made up of a coalition
of local stakeholders including
government officials, entrepreneurs,
residents, researchers, NGOs and
other organisations. This level of
cooperation is unprecedented and has
a strong Dutch flavour.
The same is true for the innovative
designs – with members in six out
of 10 teams, the Dutch are well
represented here, too. The winning
Rebuild by Design projects were
announced in June 2014. The city of
New York and the states of New York
and New Jersey are responsible for
implementation of the projects. An
initial billion dollars of federal funding
has been received for the realisation
of the six projects.
www.rebuildbydesign.org
Integrated approach
InnovatIon
fInance and ImplementatIon
supported analysIs
NEW YORK (USA)
REBUILD BY DESIGN AFTER HURRICANE SANDY
16
75. Launch
June 20 2013
Select 10 Teams
August 8 2013
Present Research and opportunities
October 28 2013
Present final designs
April 3 2014
Research DesignCompete Implement
Select 6 winners
June 2 2014
81. Climate change adaptation benefits
InThe San Francisco Bayareaare maintained several monitoring networks bydifferent organizations,
e.g.waterqualityin some Nature reserves bythe U.S. Natural Park services,waterqualityand sediment
of the Bay Area by SFEI, water levels of the Bat area by the Army Corps of Engineers, groundwater
levels at random locations bythe USGS and many more. Monitoring efforts could be improved after a
discussion about needed monitoring objectives, followed by evaluating the existing networks. It’s
clearthat monitoring need to be improved in this time of Climate Change and Sea Level. Therefore all
organizations should worktogether and design one ‘water and subsurface’ network, strengthen each
otherandinagreementwiththeobjectives.Inthefollowingtableallmonitoringtopicsaresummarized.
Of course, an optimized integral monitoring can be partly based on existing sites.
Eutrophication of the Bay Area example: To understand this process Bay water need to be sampled
at different locations and depths (condition monitoring). To understand this condition several other
impacts need to be monitored at the same time: the amount and quality of waste water discharge
into the Bay, the amount and quality of stream discharges, the influence of Sacramento River, the
temperature of the Bay, and the interaction with Bay dredge.
Towards one integrated and public accessible monitoring network for all water and subsurface data
Rain, evaporation, groundwater recharge • E.g. Lysimeter network (monitoring groundwater
recharge)
Groundwater • Design Bay area wide groundwater network for:
– Groundwater levels and hydraulic heads
– Groundwater quality
– Fresh-salt gradients
Rivers, streams • Design Bay area wide network:
– Discharge quantities in time
– Quality
– Aquatic ecology
Storm drainage pipes at Bay shoreline • Map and categorize outlets:
– Monitor quantity and quality of selection
Urban flooding (including transport lines) • Where, how much and when (camera’s)
Bay water • Optimize level, quality, salinity, temperature, water depth and sediments
monitoring sites if needed. Making use of Bay model
• Monitor ecological and morphological state of marshes and mudflats
Waste water treatment plants • Map locations WWTP’s and pipe outlets. Monitor:
– Discharge , quality and temperature
Groundwater pumping • Map all locations and categorize: drinking water, industrial, irrigation,
infrastructure (BART tunnels, basements, parking garages)
– Determine discharge quantity. quality and outlet
Subsidence • Using Lidar or satellite images and extensometers
All data in one web based database. Clear visualizations of the meaning of monitoring results. Agreements about
consequences of monitoring results.
84. The great
diversity of water
issues in Asia’s
coastal regions
means that
challenges are also
opportunities
extreme wet bulb temperatures
water pollution
landslides
drought stress
salination
typhoons
salt intrusion
sea floods
sea level rise
land subsidence
river floods
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
LONG TERM EFFECTS
water extraction
compression
water level rise
water logging
siltation
increased salinity
canalization
embankement
evaporation
extreme wet bulb temperatures
water pollution
landslides
drought stress
salination
typhoons
salt intrusion
sea floods
sea level rise
land subsidence
river floods
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
LONG TERM EFFECTS
water extraction
compression
water level rise
water logging
siltation
increased salinity
canalization
embankement
evaporation
Extreme weather events
Long term effects
River Floods
Sea Floods
Typhoons
Landslides
Drought Stress
Salination
Salt Intrusion
Sea Level Rise
Land Subsidence
Extreme Wet Bulb Temperatures
Water Pollution
River Basins
Urbanizing Inland River
Basins
Urbanized Deltas
Sinking Land
RIVER BASINS
URBANIZING INLAND
RIVER BASINS
SINKING LANDS
URBANIZED DELTAS
EXTREME WET BULB TEMPERATURES
WATER POLLUTION
LANDSLIDES
DROUGHT STRESS
SALINIZATION
TYPHOONS
SALT WATER INTRUSION
SEA FLOODS
SEA LEVEL RISE
LAND SUBSIDENCE
RIVER FLOODS
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
LONG TERM EFFECTS
LANDSCAPES OF PROBLEMS
85. WATERAS LEVERAGE
Water as Leverage
Rethinking the approach for
urban climate resilience
The World Economic Forum ranked water crises number one in its 2015 assessment of global risks. Traditional project
management cannot keep pace with the impact of climate change on global water supplies. A new approach is needed.
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
Confidence is very high that the window of opportunity – the period when significant change
can be made, for limiting climate change within tolerable boundaries – is rapidly narrowing.”
International
Organisations
STAKEHOLDER
Government
NGO
Civil Society
Finance
Private Sector
Climate related challenge
Research & analysis of problem
Feasibility study of solutions
Project development
Financing
Multiple stakeholders involved
at different times
Long project preparation
timescales with narrow focus
on short term solutions
Difficult to respond to change
once project is underway
Solution only available at the
end of the project
Implementation
Inadequate solution User
IPCC report August 2019
94. Have
Rising
orld Is
ng
w York Times
n these
we are
ure that
xt storm
region
r and
pared
an
TOO BIG to Ignore.
The Biggest Challenge Ever
TOO BIG to Simplify.
Embrace Complexity
TOO BIG for Our Systems.
Create a Free Place
TOO BIG to Go Alone.
Be Radically Inclusive
TOO BIG for Fragmentation.
The Power of Design
Act Now