Sustainable Water Management in the Face of Climate Change and Water Scarcity

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is presently altering the global water cycle, which, in turn, has a significant impact on the world’s freshwater systems and water security. This alteration manifests in unpredictable precipitation patterns and a rise in both the frequency and severity of water-related hazards, such as floods and droughts. In addition, climate change exacerbates water scarcity, which is caused by poor water management practices, pollution, and over-consumption.

As a result, in many areas of the world, water consumption exceeds its replenishment rates, leading to the desiccation of rivers, the depletion of groundwater resources, and the degradation of dependent ecosystems and the services they provide. Water insecurity intensifies competition for access to water, hampers economic growth and development, and leads to instability and conflicts. Such conditions amplify other risks, such as food insecurity, migration, and environmental degradation, creating negative feedback loops. Moreover, extreme weather events reveal vulnerabilities in global urban infrastructure, particularly in water, wastewater, and drainage systems that are operating at or over their design capacity.

In the face of climate change and water scarcity, sustainable water management is a holistic strategy to address these interconnected challenges, balancing freshwater supplies with demands in a way that ensures that current and future generations have access to water of sufficient quantity and quality. It incorporates environmental, economic, and social dimensions to achieve long-term water security.

This Special Issue thus aims to develop sustainable water management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on global water security, focusing on innovative solutions for resilient freshwater systems, infrastructures, and communities.

We welcome research and review paper submissions that focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Advancements in water conservation technologies;
2. Water governance and policy developments;
3. The resilience of urban water, wastewater, and drainage systems to climate change;
4. Economic insights in sustainable water management;
5. Equity and access in sustainable water resources;
6. Participatory water management;
7. Risk management and adaptation in water systems;
8. Sustainable agricultural practices for water efficiency;
9. Waterbody chemical and ecological status;
10. Decision support tools;
11. Nature-based solutions.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Theodoros Giakoumis
Guest Editor

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• sustainable water management
• climate change
• water scarcity
• integrated water resources management (IWRM)
• hydrological modelling
• decision support tools
• sustainable development goals (SDGs)
• freshwater systems
• water policy and governance
• infrastructure