Water in a heated world: only controllable by climate-resilient water management

National and international water policy must adapt to ongoing, accelerated changes in the global water cycle and respond to them quickly and comprehensively. This is the key message of the WBGU report 'Water in a heated world', which Prof. Jörg Drewes, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering at the TUM School of Engineering and Design and member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), elaborated.

From left to right: Sabine Schlacke (co-chair WBGU), Prof. Jörg Drewes, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, Mario Brandenburg (Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research), Karen Pittel (co-chair WBGU). Image: WBGU

The effects of climate change, the overexploitation of water resources, the unequal distribution of water, the loss of ecosystem services, and related health risks are increasingly leading to water emergencies. Recent examples include the declaration of a water emergency in Catalonia due to water shortages in spring 2024, large-scale catastrophic flooding events such as those which occurred a few weeks ago in Eastern Europe, or the increasing pollution of water resources in many parts of Africa. "We expect such regional water emergencies to occur more and more frequently, so we can now speak of a global pattern. We see this as a threat with a global dimension," warns WBGU member Jörg Drewes. In extreme cases, situations arise that are beyond the limits of controllability. They can lead to the destabilization of political, societal and ecological systems. Climate-change mitigation, the protection of ecosystems and a climate-resilient, socially balanced water management are the most important measures for preventing water emergencies.

Press release WBGU

Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering

Prof. Jörg Drewes

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