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The 'Recharge Pakistan' project, implemented by WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with the government, addresses Pakistan's vulnerability to climate-induced floods and droughts. The project focuses on the Sindh province, specifically in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and the districts of Sindh, employing a mix of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and grey infrastructure. Key interventions include restoring floodplains, constructing flood-protection embankments, and implementing climate-resilient agriculture. The framework emphasizes social safeguards, including the 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' (FPIC) of tribal communities and the use of a grievance redress mechanism to manage conflicts over land and resource use.

California's agricultural industry, particularly in the Central Valley, is facing devastating impacts from a multi-year drought described as the worst in 1200 years. The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard is being used by companies like Diageo (Blossom Hill winery) and Olam to move beyond basic efficiency toward comprehensive water stewardship. For Diageo, this involved creating an internal "Blue Team" of employees to identify water-saving measures and improve watershed awareness. For Olam, the AWS framework led to the implementation of wastewater treatment via Sudan grass, cascading cleaning systems, and the engineering of multi-crop equipment that enables farmers to invest in drip irrigation. Both companies used the AWS standard to translate global corporate water commitments into local action by recognizing water as a shared resource.

Australia is experiencing a catastrophic bushfire season driven by record temperatures and drought, with over 10 million hectares burned as of January 11. The fires have caused significant human casualties, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to the predicted death of billions of animals, including over 50% of the koala population on Kangaroo Island. WWF is responding by providing urgent care for injured wildlife, implementing science-based habitat restoration, and working with Indigenous and rural communities to improve future fire response and resiliency based on climate science.

The document argues that climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' for water security, affecting all businesses regardless of their direct water reliance. It proposes a four-step process—Assess Risk, Develop Strategy, Implement Solutions, and Monitor/Adapt—to move companies from simple sustainability to long-term climate resilience. The report emphasizes the superiority of nature-based solutions over purely engineered infrastructure and advocates for collective, basin-level action over isolated site-level management.

The document examines desalination as a potential water source for Cape Town, noting that while it provides a rainfall-independent supply, it is often the most expensive option and carries significant energy and environmental costs. It details existing small-scale plants in South African municipalities and warns against over-investing in large-scale facilities based on experiences in Australia.

The document details water stress in cities including São Paulo, Mexico City, Karachi, Los Angeles, Nairobi, Brisbane, and Seville, highlighting the roles of poor planning, climate-driven drought, and infrastructure failure. It advocates for a transition to climate-resilient water budgets through demand reduction, diversified water sources, and improved governance to avoid 'Day Zero' scenarios.

South Africa faces increasing vulnerability to climate extremes, including droughts in the west and intense rainfall in the east, with economic costs reaching billions of rand. Despite the Climate Change Act of 2024 mandating a national adaptation plan, implementation is lagging. The energy sector, responsible for nearly 80% of national emissions, is identified as the most critical area for mitigation through the upcoming Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). WWF proposes a 'People's Energy Plan' as a feasible path to net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century that supports developmental growth and employment.

The guide uses the case study of Rejoyce Kgabo Legodi, a community activist in Limpopo, South Africa, to demonstrate how to use diverse communication tools—such as solar-powered film screenings, workshops, and plant nurseries—to engage rural communities. It outlines a training structure that encourages participants to analyze the rural-urban divide and apply specific 'lenses' (wealth, gender, language, and age) to ensure a variety of voices are included in climate action and the just transition debate.

The report analyses survey data from 74 respondents in Cape Town regarding their use of boreholes and views on groundwater management. Key findings indicate that while many citizens use or consider boreholes to reduce reliance on municipal water and mitigate drought risks, there is strong support for regulating groundwater to prevent over-abstraction. The document also identifies a significant gap in the availability of local groundwater quality data and recommends the creation of a public information dashboard, preferably via a web page, to provide data on water quality, abstraction amounts, and borehole registration.

The Table Mountain Water Source Partnership was established in 2020 following a severe drought (2017–2020) to coordinate groundwater management in Cape Town. The partnership, comprising government, private sector, academic, and civil society members, focuses on policy work, restoration of recharge areas, and the development of monitoring tools like groundwater dashboards. Cape Town is situated within two strategic water source areas: the surface-level Table Mountain Water Source Area and the Cape Flats-Cape Peninsula groundwater source area. The document highlights the risk posed by unmanaged private borehole abstraction and the increased likelihood of severe droughts due to the climate crisis.

The uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (UWASP) is a multistakeholder platform established following a severe drought in 2016 to address water scarcity and security in the uMhlathuze catchment. The catchment is a high-risk area where water demand is projected to rise, with Richards Bay alone expected to require 20 million m³ per annum by 2025. UWASP's new five-year strategy focuses on five strategic areas: integrated knowledge management, stakeholder mobilisation, capacity building, strengthening water governance, and implementing climate-aware water stewardship projects. Past successes include the development of real-time monitoring tools like FlowTracker, invasive alien plant strategies, and providing Good Agricultural Practices training to over 50 smallholder farmers.

The document outlines a water stewardship project in the Western Cape's Breede catchment, involving nine volunteer stone-fruit farmers. It details the application of the AWS standard to manage physical, social, regulatory, and reputational water risks. Case studies demonstrate practical improvements in irrigation technology, fertiliser reduction, and infrastructure security. The guide also identifies broader catchment-level risks, such as urban sanitation and alien invasive plants, and suggests expanding water stewardship to other sectors like forestry and mining in South Africa.

The document describes 'Day Zero' as the point when Cape Town's water system can no longer maintain normal services due to a severe drought, the worst in over 100 years. It outlines the transition to 'Emergency Stage 2', where water is shut off for most households and businesses, leaving only critical services and 200 distribution points. The text warns of potential sewage system collapse, increased disease risk, and economic damage, urging residents to drastically reduce water usage through specific behavioral changes to delay the onset of Day Zero.

The document defines 'Day Zero' as the date when Cape Town's municipal water supply will be shut off due to a severe drought lasting over 100 years. It outlines a scenario where residents would be limited to 25 litres of water per person per day from approximately 200 collection points, with priority given to hospitals and clinics. The text warns of significant risks, including the collapse of sewage systems, increased disease, and economic damage, while providing a detailed list of water-saving behaviors to delay the onset of Day Zero.

The document defines 'Day Zero' as a worst-case scenario where Cape Town's taps run dry, predicted for 21 April based on dam levels being 28% full as of 15 January. On this day, the city enters Emergency Stage 3, cutting off water to most households and businesses, leaving only vital services and 200 points of distribution providing 25 litres per person. Recovery is expected to take three to six months, depending on winter rainfall. While new sources like groundwater, desalination, and reclaimed water are planned (totaling 292 million litres per day by year-end), they will not meet the current demand of 600 million litres per day. The briefing advises residents to monitor water use, prepare emergency drinking water, and consider dry sanitation systems.

The document outlines twelve practical steps for farmers to implement water stewardship, focusing on monitoring water use, adopting conservation agriculture, managing invasive plants, and protecting natural water infrastructure like wetlands and river buffers to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The fact sheet highlights the critical role of natural springs in the upper Umzimvubu catchment of the Eastern Cape, where they serve as a vital safety net for approximately 1.2 million people. It advocates for a community-driven spring protection model to mitigate water scarcity, health risks, and climate impacts. The document details a specific initiative in Matatiele that used a hydro-census to identify 330 springs, leading to the protection of 18 sites and the eventual completion of 45 springs, providing safe drinking water to approximately 40,000 rural dwellers.