STRATEGIC Drought Risk Management
Drought is a complex, pervasive natural hazard. Droughts occur at multiple spatial scales and evolve over timescales that make them distinctive compared to other ‘natural’ hazards. Whilst the occurrence of droughts is driven significantly by meteorological and (surface and groundwater) hydrological conditions, impacts of water scarcity are profoundly influenced by human choices and trade-offs between competing claims for water. Those choices are, in turn, shaped by the societal and institutional contexts in which they are embedded.
Its complexity has led to multiple definitions of ‘drought’ reflecting the varying climatic characteristics from one region to other and the sector-specific impacts it has. On all measures drought impacts appear to be increasing in both developing and developed countries and will increasingly put a break on development and lead to irreversible environmental damage.
Future droughts will happen. Reducing the impacts they have will require a more strategic approach to drought planning (at a policy and more local level). Such plans will need to emphasize a wide range of management responses, based on a better understanding of the drought risks, improved monitoring and early warning systems, better preparedness planning, as well as well targeted actions to promote flexible supplies and reduce demand.
Its complexity has led to multiple definitions of ‘drought’ reflecting the varying climatic characteristics from one region to other and the sector-specific impacts it has. On all measures drought impacts appear to be increasing in both developing and developed countries and will increasingly put a break on development and lead to irreversible environmental damage.
Future droughts will happen. Reducing the impacts they have will require a more strategic approach to drought planning (at a policy and more local level). Such plans will need to emphasize a wide range of management responses, based on a better understanding of the drought risks, improved monitoring and early warning systems, better preparedness planning, as well as well targeted actions to promote flexible supplies and reduce demand.
Strategic drought risk management - A collaboration with WWF and the
Chinese government The Chinese Government has committed significant resources to address water resource management issues across the country. One particular issue to address is drought, which occurs regularly in China, often with very significant social, economic and environmental consequences. As climate change leads to increased uncertainty about future rainfall patterns, and potentially also leads to increase in the frequency and severity of droughts, it is important that sophisticated drought planning and management is mainstreamed in China. As part of an on-going collaboration, WWF and GIWP aim to collate lessons from international experiences in these two fields, to synthesize the lessons, and to identify world best practice. This information will be used by GIWP in fulfilling its responsibilities as a key planning agency under the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources. The results will also contribute to WWF’s freshwater work globally. As part of this on-going collaboration Paul Sayers is leading the theme on Drought Risk Management. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop international best practice guidelines and influence the upcoming revision of Chinese water policy. |
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