Climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene and resilience: a briefing paper from SWA Research and Learning Constituency

Internet publication

Water and sanitation are basic human needs and essential for functional societies but are threatened by climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted societal risks, uncertainties and inequalities, while also highlighting the critical role of access to safe water and sanitation services to ensure recovery and resilience. However, climate change is a threat to the delivery of sustainable water and sanitation services.

The water cycle is a primary way that climate change impacts society. According to the IPCC AR6 2021 report, “continued global warming is projected to further intensify the global water cycle, including its variability, global monsoon precipitation and the severity of wet and dry events.” These changes are already affecting water and sanitation services, such as disrupted water supply, and sewers and pit latrines overflowing, requiring increased attention to strengthen their climate resilience.

This brief was prepared by the SWA Research and Learning constituency in support of the 2022 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) ‘Building Forward Better for Recovery and Resilience.’ It seeks to make available the latest research evidence on climate change, resilience and water, sanitation and hygiene for the preparatory processes leading up to the SMM and to support evidence-based follow-up action.

Authors: Willetts, J; Priadi, C; Dickin, S; Charles, K; Brewer, T

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Sanitation and Water for All
• Publication date: 2022-05-15
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-5j8b0kgv4
• Language: English
• Keywords: sanitation; water; climate change; WASH; 201880; hygiene; REACH