Dossier

Climate and water management

Climate change may have profound effects and predicting them is far from easy. More extreme weather conditions are expected in the future, while more than half of the world’s population lives in areas susceptible to the effects of climate change.

Effects can be seen in rising sea levels, partly because seawater expands when it heats up, but also because the ice sheets on land are melting and – to a lesser extent – because glaciers are retreating. Climate change also has major implications for islands and for countries with long coastlines, which does not have sufficient resources to withstand the effects.

Consequences of climate change are found in e.g. salinization, rising waters, scarcity of water and desertification, but also in urban climates. Climate change has a profound influence in global food production and health.