Increased concentrations of Green House Gases (GHGs) and the overall warming of the atmosphere has resulted in changing rainfall patterns, disruption in hydrological cycles, melting of ice caps and glaciers, rise in sea levels, and increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heavy precipitation and cyclonic activities.
These have in turn had serious impact on sustainability of water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, affecting the well being of billions of people on earth. Widespread melting of glaciers and snow cover will reduce melt water from major mountain ranges (e.g. Hindu Kush, Himalaya, Andes) where more than one billion people currently live.
Low-carbon policies that are inclusive need to be differentiated across sectors based on national priorities and transaction costs of implementing the policy. In sectors such as land, water and forests, livelihood considerations such as income generation and poverty alleviation must dominate our policy choice, even if it requires overriding carbon emission concerns.
The report has the following specific points related to water –
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