How can you overcome water resource engineering challenges in a changing climate?

1 Adapt to uncertainty

One of the key challenges of water resources engineering in a changing climate is the uncertainty of future hydrological conditions and scenarios. You cannot rely on historical data and trends to predict the future behavior and impacts of water systems. You need to adopt a flexible and adaptive approach that can cope with uncertainty and change. This means using robust and probabilistic methods, such as scenario analysis, risk assessment, sensitivity analysis, and adaptive management, to evaluate different options and outcomes, and to adjust your plans and actions as new information and feedback become available.

2 Incorporate climate data

Another challenge of water resources engineering in a changing climate is the availability and quality of climate data and projections. You need to access and use reliable and relevant climate data and models to inform your water resources engineering decisions and designs. This means identifying and selecting the appropriate sources, scales, and formats of climate data and models, such as global climate models (GCMs), regional climate models (RCMs), downscaling techniques, and climate change indicators. You also need to understand the limitations and uncertainties of climate data and models, and to communicate them clearly to your stakeholders and clients.

3 Enhance resilience

A third challenge of water resources engineering in a changing climate is the resilience of water systems and communities to climate shocks and stresses. You need to enhance the resilience of your water resources engineering projects and solutions to cope with the potential impacts and consequences of climate change, such as increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, reduced water availability and quality, increased water demand and competition, and increased environmental and social pressures. This means applying resilience principles and practices, such as redundancy, diversity, flexibility, modularity, integration, collaboration, and learning, to your water resources engineering processes and outcomes.

4 Promote sustainability

A fourth challenge of water resources engineering in a changing climate is the sustainability of water resources and ecosystems. You need to promote the sustainability of your water resources engineering projects and solutions to ensure that they do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their water needs and aspirations. This means adopting a holistic and systemic perspective that considers the environmental, social, and economic aspects and impacts of your water resources engineering decisions and designs. You also need to apply sustainability criteria and indicators, such as water footprint, life cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and stakeholder participation, to your water resources engineering evaluation and implementation.

5 Innovate and learn

A fifth challenge of water resources engineering in a changing climate is the innovation and learning of new knowledge and skills. You need to innovate and learn from your water resources engineering experiences and experiments, as well as from the best practices and lessons learned from other water resources engineers and professionals. This means embracing a culture of innovation and learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, experimentation, reflection, and feedback. You also need to use and share the latest tools and technologies, such as remote sensing, geographic information systems, artificial intelligence, and smart water networks, to enhance your water resources engineering capabilities and performance.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?