Water is an essential resource for life, and climate change impacts water resources first and foremost, as can be seen by all the global droughts experienced recently.

Access to water is not only required for drinking water and sanitation and hygiene services, but also fundamental to human health, food security (rainwater and irrigation), bio-diversity, industrial productivity, energy production, and various other activities that support prosperity and resilience.

Climate change not only impacts water resources but also further increases the intensity and frequency of natural disasters and water-related crises, including water shortages, unpredictable rainfall and floods, cyclones, and droughts; all of which exacerbate existing freshwater quality and quantity challenges.

This makes addressing the above challenges all the more important and fundamental to adapting to climate change and reducing the negative impacts of water-related disasters. Water is therefore also critical for successful climate change mitigation, as many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.

Around 67% of the global population could face water stress by 2025, and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100. Repercussions will be felt across the planet, but it will be those who are already highly exposed to extreme climate phenomena and the most vulnerable countries and populations, who possess the least capacity to respond and adapt, who will be the most affected.

Access to food, health and energy security is under threat in many regions, and unless something is done about it quickly, political and social tensions and conflicts will most probably increase, making things far worse than they already are.

The obvious links between water and climate change have been ignored in international summits for far too long; thankfully this all changed with COP21, with water events organised by the French and Peruvian Presidencies, together with partners from civil society. This was a great start, but a lot still needs to be done to assure that there is fresh, potable water for all.

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