Managing Climate Extremes and Disasters in the Water Sector: Lessons from the IPCC SREX Report

The document translates the IPCC SREX report's findings into actionable insights for the water sector, emphasizing that disaster risk is increasing due to both climate extremes and rising human vulnerability. It highlights the high confidence that climate changes will seriously affect water management systems and argues for a shift from incremental to transformational changes in governance and infrastructure. The brief advocates for 'low regrets' adaptation strategies and the integration of disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) to build long-term resilience.

• Disaster risk is projected to increase in many countries even without accounting for climate change, primarily because more vulnerable people and assets are being exposed to climate extremes.
• Economic losses from weather and climate-related disasters are increasing globally, with annual estimates ranging from a few billion to approximately US$ 200 billion (in 2010 dollars). While developed countries see higher absolute dollar losses, developing countries experience higher fatality rates and losses as a proportion of GDP.
• Coastal cities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face severe risks from sea-level rise and extreme sea levels. By 2070, cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Bangkok, Rangoon, Hai Phòng, and Miami are expected to have the greatest population exposure to coastal flooding.
• Effective management of climate extremes requires a balance between risk reduction, risk transfer (such as insurance), and disaster impact management, with a stronger emphasis on anticipation and risk reduction.
• Adaptation strategies should prioritize 'low regrets' options—those providing net benefits across various future climate scenarios—such as improved forecasting, warning systems, and flood-proofing.
• If climate extremes increase significantly, the water sector will need transformational changes in institutions and processes rather than just incremental adjustments, moving toward a holistic approach that integrates water management with urban planning and land use.
• National risk management systems are the primary determinant of a country's capacity to handle climate challenges, but many countries remain poorly adapted to current risks and unprepared for future extremes.

APA

Back, E., Cameron, C., & Norrington-Davies, G. (2012). Managing Climate Extremes and Disasters in the Water Sector: Lessons from the IPCC SREX Report. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SREX-Summary-WATER_web.pdf

Chicago

Back, Emma, Catherine Cameron, and Gemma Norrington-Davies. Managing Climate Extremes and Disasters in the Water Sector: Lessons from the IPCC SREX Report. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SREX-Summary-WATER_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Back |first1=Emma |last2=Cameron |first2=Catherine |last3=Norrington-Davies |first3=Gemma |title=Managing Climate Extremes and Disasters in the Water Sector: Lessons from the IPCC SREX Report |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SREX-Summary-WATER_web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{back2012managing, author = {Back, Emma and Cameron, Catherine and Norrington-Davies, Gemma}, title = {{Managing Climate Extremes and Disasters in the Water Sector: Lessons from the IPCC SREX Report}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SREX-Summary-WATER_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }