The availability of freshwater will be significantly altered in a future world affected by climate change. In some regions, water availability will decrease; in others it will increase. Precise predictions about the extent and exact location of such changes cannot be made because they are based on climate models, the accuracy of which is uncertain. However, there is wide agreement that probable changes will include less rain in southern Europe. Overall, higher temperatures in all regions, which will lead to greater evaporation so that, even in regions where rainfall does not decrease, water availability will be reduced. The goal of this course is to educate students on the expected effects of climate change on water resources. By understanding climate change impacts will help understand how it will exacerbate water scarcity in the future and how it will impact the human society and its health. Overall this course will help professionals to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change.

• Increase the participants’ understanding about climate change and to explore possible solutions
• Understand and describe how climate change impacts the hydrological cycle in water scarce region
• Learn how to manage risk and deal with the uncertainty due tp climate change on water resources
• Understand future implication of water scarcity due to climate change as a results of climate change
• Understand future water resources for more efficient management of water resource to improve both access to water and reduce risks from climate change

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

• Identify the causes and impacts of climate change on water resources and human societies
• Assess the impacts of climate change on hydrological processes and water resources
• Best Management practices for water resource under climate change condition
• Fill the gaps between climate and water research findings and provide this knowledge to policy makers and skakeholders

6 credits

1. 1. F. Ludwig, P. Kabat, H. van Schaik, M. van der Valk (eds.). Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector. Routledge pp. 304 (2009)
2. S. Peake, J. Smith. Climate Change: From science to sustainability. Oxford University Press, pp. 304 (2009)