Flowing forward: freshwater ecosystem adaptation to climate change in water resources management and biodiversity conservation
This report provides extensive guidance on existing and potential adaptation responses for the water sector, including risk assessment approaches, and options for integration of climate adaptation into project, program, and policy lending and support. It includes a preliminary discussion of the potential impacts of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, as well as specific recommendations on adaptation measures for these ecosystems.
The report comprises four chapters. Chapter 1 briefly reviews the role and contribution of ecosystem services to development objectives. Chapter 2 describes the current scientific understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on freshwater ecosystems. Chapter 3 sets out a detailed methodology for undertaking vulnerability and risk assessment in the context of freshwater ecosystems, and provides a synthesis of the main findings of the case studies that were undertaken in preparation of this report. Chapter 4 provides recommendations for integrating adaptation responses into project and program lending.