Policy Brief on Climate Change and Water launched during High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

In the side-event titled Deep dive: Climate change and water, UN-Water launched an update of its Policy Brief on Climate Change and Water. Participants got a chance to discuss the significant co-benefits to managing climate and water in a more coordinated and sustainable manner and discovered solutions that are being implemented by a growing number of countries.

The global climate crisis is inextricably linked to water. Climate change increases variability in the water cycle, inducing extreme weather events, reducing the predictability of water availability, affecting water quality and threatening sustainable development and biodiversity worldwide.

Growing demand for water increases the need for energy-intensive water pumping, transportation, and treatment, and has contributed to the degradation of critical water-dependent carbon sinks such as peatlands. And, some climate change mitigation measures, such as the expanded use of biofuels, are further exacerbating water scarcity.

• Key Messages from the Policy Brief on Climate Change and Water.
• Unedited version UN-Water Policy Brief on Climate Change and Water.