The Webinar on Impacts of Climate Change on Surface and Groundwater Resources was organized on 23 June 2022 by the Economic Affairs Officer, Water Resources Section, Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); Regional Initiative aims at assessing the impact of climate change on freshwater resources in the Arab Region (RICCAR); Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD); and International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
The main focus is on climate projections in Africa and the region and their impacts on selected aquifers. Such case studies can bridge climate science toward integrated management.
President ICID - Prof. Dr. Ragab Ragab made a Keynote presentation on
"Impact of future climate change on surface and groundwater resources: Examples from the UK"
Water Challenges in Africa:
There are limited sources of water available to provide clean drinking water to the entire population of Africa. Surface water sources are often highly polluted, and infrastructure to pipe water from fresh, clean sources to arid areas is too costly of an endeavour. Groundwater is the best resource to tap to provide clean water to the majority of areas in Africa, especially rural Africa, and groundwater has the benefit of being naturally protected from bacterial contamination and is a reliable source during droughts.
However, globally, invisible groundwater resources are under increasing pressure due to human activities and climate change. Our response to this pressure is often not adequate, also due to limited awareness of the importance of groundwater resources.
Africa is heavily reliant on groundwater resources, with an estimated 75% of the population dependent on this resource for basic water supplies. The demand for groundwater in Africa is set to rise, as a result of population growth, climate change and growing food insecurity. Only recently has the management of transboundary aquifers-- groundwater reserves shared across borders -- been recognized as a central component of water governance. Across the African continent, there are 80 aquifers and aquifer systems superimposed on 63 international river basins.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water. Growing demands necessitate integrated management and planning to avoid overexploitation and eventual depletion. However, data and understanding are lacking at a regional level.
