Climate change

Effectiveness of water adaptation responses in reducing climate related risks: A meta review

Climate change and water insecurity

Overview

This project aimed to build climate-resilient farming systems that use water efficiently and sustainably. Our meta review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of water adaptation responses in reducing climate-related risks, and from this, develop an overview framework to support future adaptation designs.

Water insecurity is the first visible and palpable manifestation of climate change experienced on an everyday basis by billions of people. In response to climate and non-climate induced water insecurity, people and governments around the world are undertaking various kinds of adaptation responses.

While there are thousands of case studies of adaptation responses to water insecurity, there has been little analysis of how these responses actually reduce risks emanating from water insecurity. Therefore, this project is conducting a systematic review to understand if existing adaptation responses are “effective” in reducing climate-related risks.

Project outcomes

  • Using a systematic review methodology, review documents on existing case studies of water-related adaptation responses and ascertain the extent to which these adaptation responses have been able to reduce climate-related risks.
  • Examining the enabling conditions that helped to make these adaptation responses “effective”.
  • Understanding if some of the adaptation responses were “maladaptive” or if there were limits to adaptation.