In March 2025, the UK charity Water Aid released the report “Water
and Climate: Rising Risks for Urban Populations”. The key findings of the
report were:
- 15% of the cities examined in this report show an
intensification trend, which we have termed ‘climate whiplash’, where both extreme
dry and wet episodes are substantially increasing. These whiplashing extremes
in quick succession can be particularly hard for communities to
prepare for and recover from. These cities are found across the world, from
Asia to the Middle East and Africa and the USA. -
South and Southeast Asia is a regional hotspot with a strong
wetting trend. This region is experiencing an increase in wet and extreme wet
climate, which increases the likelihood of extreme flooding. Many of the
world’s largest cities are located in this area. -
Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa are experiencing a
drying trend and are likely to face more frequent and long-lasting
droughts. -
Over 20% of the cities are experiencing a reversal in their climate
extremes. Approximately 13% are flipping toward a more extreme wet climate,
while about 7% are flipping toward a more extreme dry climate. -
The convergence of underlying social and infrastructure vulnerabilities
with these climatic patterns results in hotspots of risk in two key regions: -
South and Southeast Asia, which is experiencing increases in
wet extremes. -
North and East Africa, which is experiencing increases in
both wet and dry extremes.
Water Aid has called for:
- Greater investment to tackle the water crisis: Development
partners, multilateral banks and the private sector should work together to
unlock investment in climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems
that benefits the most vulnerable. -
Global leadership to accelerate action on water: Governments
and development partners must work through the existing multilateral platforms
to deliver ambitious action on climate and water, including through the UNFCCC, the G7 Water Coalition and the G20 Call to Action on
Strengthening Drinking-water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services. -
National government leadership to
urgently deliver water
plans: Governments in affected countries to mainstream and implement
water,sanitation and hygiene measures into their national and
city-level climateadaptation plans with a focus on vulnerable groups,
especially women and girls. -
Prioritise the most vulnerable communities: All
decision-makers to recognise overlapping vulnerabilities and prioritise the leadership
and needs of women, girls and marginalised groups in climate-resilient water,
sanitation, and hygiene plans.