Impacts of Climate Change on Water Sustainability: Rivers, Floods, Droughts, and Extreme Precipitation
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1265

Special Issue Editors
Interests: hydrology; climatology; environmental science; natural disasters
Interests: physical geography; natural hazards; environment; hydrology of torrents; torrential floods; soil erosion; water resources
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Climate change is significantly altering hydrological systems, intensifying extreme events such as floods, droughts, and erratic precipitation patterns. These changes pose critical challenges for water sustainability, requiring a deeper understanding of shifting river flow regimes, increasing flood risks, prolonged droughts, and their socio-ecological consequences. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on advancing research on climate-driven disruptions to water systems by using innovative methodologies, improved climate and hydrological models, and state-of-the-art statistical and machine-learning approaches. We welcome contributions from diverse geographic regions that explore predictive models of river flow variability, flood and drought forecasts, and the socio-economic impacts of hydrological extremes. Studies emphasizing adaptive management strategies, green infrastructure, and AI-driven hydrological predictions are particularly encouraged. By integrating interdisciplinary research—from physical sciences to socio-economic analyses—this Special Issue aims to reduce uncertainties in climate impact assessments and support resilient water resource management. We invite original research articles, case studies, and reviews that provide insights into regional vulnerabilities, ecosystem responses, and governance frameworks for climate adaptation. Through this collective effort, we seek to enhance global strategies for mitigating risks and building sustainable climate-resilient water systems for the future. Potential themes include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Predictive modeling of river flow variability and flood/drought forecasting.
- The ecological consequences of altered hydrological regimes.
- Socio-economic vulnerabilities and adaptive governance.
- Innovations in monitoring and mitigation technologies.
- Urban stormwater management under intensified rainfall.
- AI-driven hydrological predictions.
- Green infrastructure for flood mitigation.
- Agricultural adaptation to water scarcity.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Igor Leščešen
Dr. Ana M. Petrović
Dr. Slobodan Gnjato
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- climate change
- water sustainability
- flood risk management
- drought resilience
- extreme precipitation
- hydrological modeling
- river ecosystems
- hydroclimatic extremes
- socio-ecological impacts
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