Water resources

Abstract

The IPCC FAR observes that between 1900 to 2005 precipitation quantities declined in the Mediterranean with the global area affected by drought likely to have increased since the 1970s. It is also very likely that over the past 50 years: cold days, cold nights and frosts have become less frequent over most land areas, and hot days and hot nights have become more frequent. It is also likely that heat waves have become more frequent over most land areas, the frequency of heavy precipitation events has increased over most areas, and since 1975 the incidence of extreme high sea level has increased worldwide. Average Northern Hemisphere temperatures during the second half of the 20th century were very likely higher than during any other 50‐year period in the last 500 years and likely the highest in at least the past 1300 years. Lowering of annual volumes, high rainfall intensity events and increased temperatures will all tend to exert additional pressures on the strains currently experienced by Malta’s water resources. Lower annual precipitation volumes contribute to lower capacity volumes whilst higher rainfall intensity events generate greater amounts of runoff and lower volumes available for percolation and subsequent recharge. Temperature rises in themselves lead to increased transpiration and evaporation rates thereby pronouncing losses. It is in this context that vulnerability, which is defined as the effects of shocks emanating out of climate change on human welfare, needs to be seen as well as to attempt to establish the degree and causes of identified vulnerabilities with a view to proposing adaptation strategies. A proper adaptation strategy is one which takes climate change considerations into account, to the extent feasible, in social, economic and environmental policies, practices and actions by all stakeholders. Adaptation will be required to reduce the costs and disruptions, alter behavioural patterns and give an additional context to decision making to acknowledge those causes derived from climate change, particularly from extreme weather events like storms, floods and heat waves. In this sense, due important is associated with the availability of the right data to ensure monitoring and modelling of future scenarios in order to enable a number of potential scenarios to be identified and addressed accordingly. Adaptation measures will entail adjustments and changes at every level ‐ from local to national and international. These include changes in behaviour, in design consideration, in policy formulation, in public and private initiatives and service delivery and in the development and use of technology. This is the essence of adaptation planning. Government has, over the past years, shown a commitment towards improving the water resources of the Maltese Islands as evidenced in various strategic documents that have been published. Adaptation to the potential effects of climate change on water resources is proposed to be addressed through improved governance, building capacity to handle the prevailing issues, increased research and development efforts, strengthening education and communications and looking at ways to prevent certain impacts by adapting our behaviours.