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18 Climatic Change and Water Resources
The Information Centre of MWR proposed that adaptive measures under climate
change adopt a new concept of change to reduce unfavorable results related to climate
change. At the same time, adaptive measures must not only avoid or reduce/eliminate
the negative influence of climate change but shall also promote sustainable social
development and reduce vulnerability. For China, the report suggested that it would
be necessary to strengthen water infrastructure construction, increase water savings
investment and awareness, use the potential of current infrastructures, develop new
water sources, implement inter-basin water transfer projects, facilitate wastewater
reuse, strengthen water legislation and formulate emergency countermeasures (Water
Resources Information Center, MWR 1996).
China’s National Assessment Report on Climate Change (Compiling group 2007)
and the Research Report on Climate Change Impact and Countermeasures on Water
Resources Works (China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
2009) provide a full range of water resources countermeasures for climate change in
China.
Changing water policy from supply management to demand management
The change from supply management to demand management will provide certainty
for water resources management. Due to climate change’s impact on water resources,
water supply will change and result in uncertainty. However, the human demand for
water resources is a relatively certain issue and can be controlled by human beings
themselves.
Conducting demand management shall change the whole concept of and work
in the water sector, including water resource planning, infrastructure development,
water resources management, and so on. The core goal of demand management is
to increase water-use efficiency and benefits. The focuses of demand management
in China are on strengthening water resources allocation, saving and protection, and
regulating industrial structures according to current water resources conditions.
Incorporating climate change into water resources planning
Climate change’s impact shall be incorporated into water resource planning in order
to increase their adaptability. Water resources planning shall analyze water resource
reactions under different climate change scenarios, including the extremes.
Strengthening the construction of water infrastructure to increase regulation
ability
Climate change will make the circumstances of water resources shift to a more
unhelpful situation in China, especially given the current shortage of water resources
in North China. To adapt to this change, it is necessary to increase the regulation and
allocation abilities of water resources systems. Therefore, comprehensive infrastructure shall be built in river basins with potential for water resources, and emergency
and backup sources shall be constructed, particularly in mid-sized and large cities.
At the same time, cross-river basin water projects shall be built to mobilize water
resources among basins.
18 Climatic Change and Water Resources
The Information Centre of MWR proposed that adaptive measures under climate
change adopt a new concept of change to reduce unfavorable results related to climate
change. At the same time, adaptive measures must not only avoid or reduce/eliminate
the negative influence of climate change but shall also promote sustainable social
development and reduce vulnerability. For China, the report suggested that it would
be necessary to strengthen water infrastructure construction, increase water savings
investment and awareness, use the potential of current infrastructures, develop new
water sources, implement inter-basin water transfer projects, facilitate wastewater
reuse, strengthen water legislation and formulate emergency countermeasures (Water
Resources Information Center, MWR 1996).
China’s National Assessment Report on Climate Change (Compiling group 2007)
and the Research Report on Climate Change Impact and Countermeasures on Water
Resources Works (China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
2009) provide a full range of water resources countermeasures for climate change in
China.
Changing water policy from supply management to demand management
The change from supply management to demand management will provide certainty
for water resources management. Due to climate change’s impact on water resources,
water supply will change and result in uncertainty. However, the human demand for
water resources is a relatively certain issue and can be controlled by human beings
themselves.
Conducting demand management shall change the whole concept of and work
in the water sector, including water resource planning, infrastructure development,
water resources management, and so on. The core goal of demand management is
to increase water-use efficiency and benefits. The focuses of demand management
in China are on strengthening water resources allocation, saving and protection, and
regulating industrial structures according to current water resources conditions.
Incorporating climate change into water resources planning
Climate change’s impact shall be incorporated into water resource planning in order
to increase their adaptability. Water resources planning shall analyze water resource
reactions under different climate change scenarios, including the extremes.
Strengthening the construction of water infrastructure to increase regulation
ability
Climate change will make the circumstances of water resources shift to a more
unhelpful situation in China, especially given the current shortage of water resources
in North China. To adapt to this change, it is necessary to increase the regulation and
allocation abilities of water resources systems. Therefore, comprehensive infrastructure shall be built in river basins with potential for water resources, and emergency
and backup sources shall be constructed, particularly in mid-sized and large cities.
At the same time, cross-river basin water projects shall be built to mobilize water
resources among basins.