Water

Across Asia, man-made structures have stood powerless to avert tragedy after tragedy during 2018’s rainy season. However, as projects that harness nature-based structures in places like Kenya and Sri Lanka are showing, green infrastructure can be a valuable tool in helping vulnerable communities to face the double threat of flooding and drought.

In Guldara, Afghanistan, the World Bank conducted risk surveys to identify priority projects for DRR. Women recommended gender-focused initiatives, while men suggested a micro hydro project and a deep well for irrigation. Among other endeavours, recommendations from both sexes included a protection wall for Guldara's river and a canal intake to deal with droughts.

This collection of 10 European case studies showcases measures that are already being carried out in Europe to increase resilience to extreme weather and slow-onset events, as well as improve adaptation to climate change. 

Climate change adaptation

The IWMI has developed flood models through a recently completed study in Sri Lanka. The models overcome a key limitation of the satellite images used for mapping, which are sometimes unavailable due to cloud cover or the satellite’s orbital period. This is the first time these models have been used to analyze flood and water storage potential in South Asia.

Smallholders are only able to succeed and build climate resilience when they can manage their farm systems efficiently. Now, a device that helps farmers apply the right amount of water to crops and sensors that tell farmers if soil needs more water are enhancing operations. These tools were introduced at knowledge-sharing platforms, to help with implementation.

Farmers living in Myanmar's central dry zone will no longer have to fight for water thanks to a pilot project that encourages active participation by farmers and gets them to work with government officials in managing water allocation and enhancing the performance of the scheme.

There are many ways to mitigate the urban heat island effect – while also creating more attractive places to live, work and play. These include: sky gardens, which involve vegetation growth on buildings and roofs; reflective roofs, which contain lighter pigments to deflect solar radiation; water outlets; and dynamic buildings shades, which don't trap sunlight.

With over 6,500 dams and reservoirs and a few past accidents having already occurred, ensuring the safety of small and medium-scale hydropower dams has not received enough attention in Viet Nam. At the time of design, engineers did not consider possible changes due to climate change, so any damages caused by natural calamities could be serious.