Current Directions in Water Scarcity Research - Chapter 4 - Impact of climate change on water resources

Climate change is one of the dynamic processes occurring in the atmosphere and affecting all the natural processes of earth. The anomalous climate changes were first noticed in early 19th century, and main factors responsible were emissions of greenhouse gases, changes in land use pattern, and large-scale deforestation. Climate change started affecting the hydrologic cycle and all related factors to such levels that several environmental issues started appearing. Overall, the term climate change was introduced for rising temperatures of the atmosphere. Coordinated efforts in mitigation and adaptation for survival of humanity are the foremost priority. Managing water is the biggest challenge with its decreasing quantity and deteriorating quality. Availability of fresh water for sustaining life needs additional adaptive strategies along with the natural solutions. These strategies include enhancing capacities to adjust, reducing footprints, reducing waste, artificial recharge, water conservation, desalination, recycle, and several other climate resistant geoengineering technologies.” The measures should include a collaborative movement of various government agencies, NGOs and the most important aspect is the community participation for developing the "Sense of Ownership" of natural resources among the people so that everyone should unite to cope with the challenge of climate change.