Climate     BUILDING RESILIENCE TO HYDRO-CLIMATIC RISKS

Change and                 Global water management must transform to meet the challenges of
                           the present and the future. Climate change has made the water cycle

  Water                    far less predictable – and water availability and quality less reliable
                           – threatening communities, livelihoods, and sustainable development.



             Our goal is a water-secure world. We help countries prepare
             for and adapt to increasing hydro-climatic risks, and we work
             to slow the pace of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas
             emissions of water service providers.



                           We work with clients to improve water management, providing
                           investment and technical support that builds resilience, reduces
                           emissions, and lowers costs. And we promote partnerships
                           between governments, the private sector, and civil society that
                           help countries adapt to climate variability.



              TO SUPPORT THE COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, WE ENCOURAGE:
              •	 Better access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services on an emergency basis.
              •	 The design of economic stimulus programs that support short-term job creation in the
                 water sector and the construction of energy-efficient, climate-resilient infrastructure.
              •	 Longer-term efforts to develop resilient, equitable, and sustainable water use.
Climate Change and Water
                           CLIMATE CHANGE IS RADICALLY ALTERING THE WATER CYCLE. THE WORLD IS BECOMING:


                                        Hotter – Higher temperatures are increasing the rate of
                                        evaporation from land and plants into the atmosphere, leading to
                                        greater demand for irrigation water.
                                                                                                                         We promote human and natural
                                                                                                                         systems that build resilience to
                                        Stormier – The frequency and intensity of hurricanes and                       hydro-climatic risks to cope with the
                                                                                                                            effects of climate change.
                                        cyclones are on the rise, resulting in stronger winds, more precipitation,
                                        and more recurrent flooding.
                                                                                                                           INVESTING IN CLIMATE
                                                                                                                            RESILIENCE PAYS OFF.
                                        Wetter         – Rising sea levels are increasing the risks associated
                                        with storm surges and poor drainage in low-lying coastal areas.
                                        Higher sea levels also affect the quality of freshwater resources.
                                                                                                                       Every
                                                                                                                               $1       spent on resilient
                                                                                                                                        infrastructure

                                                                                                                          yields
                                                                                                                                $4         in cost savings.


                                        Drier – Drought frequency and intensity are increasing, resulting
                                        in crop failures, growing water scarcity, and potential famines.
                                        Arid zones and deserts will continue to expand.


                                                                                                                       We work with our clients to design
                                        More polluted – Higher temperatures are intensifying                         climate-informed and energy-efficient
                                        the growth of dissolved nutrients in bodies of water, leading to harmful       green and grey water projects that
                                        algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills.                                       sustain water resources, deliver
                                                                                                                         services, and build resilience.