Turning IPCC Science to Action: Water and Infrastructure
AGWA recently participated in virtual event series to unpack the latest Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.
The series Turning Science into Adaptation Action: Event Series on the IPCC WGII Report is hosted by the Adaptation Action Coalition at the World Resources Institute and runs from 11 March through to 4 April.
Kelsey Harpham, Project Manager of the Water Tracker for National Climate Planning project at AGWA was a speaker at the second session of the series which took place on Wednesday 16 March: Turning IPCC Science to Action: Joint session on Water & Infrastructure.
You can watch the replay below or download the presentation slides on the event page.
The speakers at the event included IPCC authors who shared key findings from the report, as well as practitioner perspectives on the implications of the science for adaptation action.
Dr. Junguo Liu, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and IPCC WGII author presented key findings from the report’s Chapter 4 on Water. “Future projected adaptations are effective in reducing risks to a varying extent, but effectiveness falls sharply beyond 2°C, underscoring the need for limiting warning to 1.5°C,” he said.
Dr. Liu also warned that: “Water security is critical for meeting SDGs and climate-resilient development, yet many mitigation measures have high water footprint which can compromise SDGs and adaptation outcomes.”
AGWA’s Kelsey Harpham underscored the centrality of water in climate adaptation and mitigation actions. “If climate action to to be effective, the role of water must be recognized through strategic, dynamic trade-offs”, she said, presenting the Water Tracker for National Climate Planning as a tool for building water resilience through a cross-sectoral approach.
Highlights from Chapter 6 on Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure were presented by lead author Dr. Gina Ziervogel, University of Cape Town, who shared how urban areas are highly susceptible to compounding impacts from water scarcity, service availability and rapid urbanization. She warned that adaptation plans and associated infrastructure developments are increasing inequality in cities and settlements.
Lastly, Alexandre Chavarot from the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI), presented the Physical Climate Risk Assessment Methodology (PCRAM) which provides resilience pathways for public and private investors by integrating physical climate risks and infrastructure investment appraisal.
The critical role of both water and infrastructure in building resilience to the impacts of climate change was highlighted by all the speakers at the event, as well as the need for coordinated, equitable and swift adaptation action.