Hydrological systems, climate change and adaptation
The Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) supports member states by contributing to formulation of scientific tools, methodologies, and knowledge to address the hydrological and cryosphere challenges, hydrological extremes, water scarcity and sediment transport and management. UNESCO-IHP further supports member States to formulate adaptation pathways through climate resilient water management approaches including citizen and open sciences in the face of climate change through various initiatives, projects, and associated activities.
The sixth Assessment Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly states that the extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are larger than estimated in previous assessments. Moreover, climate change including increases in frequency and intensity of extremes have reduced water security, hindering efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals. Apparently, changes in the climatic system induces changes in the hydrological system and its processes, and the other way round. As impacts of climate change on both quantity and quality of water becomes more acute and the potential negative impacts become a reality, better understanding of the hydrological system, and its processes is urgently needed. Such understanding, underpinned by science and innovation is deemed suitable for addressing the complex interrelated water challenges under conditions of climate change.
To address the complex interrelated water challenges under conditions of climate change, UNESCO-IHP provides a platform for scientific knowledge by providing tools, methodologies and approaches to reduce flood and drought risk and vulnerabilities and by increasing flood/drought disaster resilience of the populations. Furthermore, IHP supports assessment and monitoring of changes in snow, glaciers and water resources as a result of climate change and climate variability. The section for Hydrological systems, Climate change and adaptation (HCA) contributes to this platform role.
