Adapting to water scarcity and changing climate

Presented at University of Arizona Environmental Summit, 22 April 2009.

Adapting to water scarcity and changing climate

Christopher Scott Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, and Dept. of Geography & Regional

Developmentudallcenter.arizona.edu/wrpg cascott@email.arizona.edu

http://www.stormeffects.com

Growing demand, shrinking suppliesExpanding, thirsty citiesThreatened ecosystemsIrrigation for food securityWater to generate powerAmenity value, recreation

Drought, early runoff Global & regional warming

Urban heat islandGroundwater depletion

Fewer (no?) “next buckets”

Adapt while mitigating climate & societal driversInterdisciplinary, applied research on:

Agriculture – urban water transfers: potential & limits

Urban heat island: landscaping water demand & cooling

Water reuse, greywater, water harvesting: public choice, regulation, and technology

Water-energy nexus: adaptation vs. mitigation tradeoffs

Transboundary waters: US-Mexico & global partnerships

Partners: NOAA, USGS, ASU, NGOs, researchers and agencies in Mexico, India, Ghana, and Ethiopia

Christopher Scottudallcenter.arizona.edu/wrpg cascott@email.arizona.edu