Climate Change, Water, Resilience and Transformation in South and Southeast Asia

Nearly 2/3 of the world's population lives in Asia, with some of the greatest densities in South Asia and in South and Southeast Asian mega-cities. Throughout this region, water resources are under strain from rapid urbanization and industrialization. Climate change is likely to further exacerbate these stresses: the length of dry seasons is likely to increase, increasing storm intensity is already increasing flooding in many places, changes in the nature and timing of the monsoon are expected but projections are poor and the nature of likely changes badly understood, and sea level rise and overuse of groundwater aquifers is leading to contamination and salinization of agricultural and drinking water supplies. In the face of these challenges, what can realistically be done to build resilience and transform humanity's interactions with and vulnerability to water stresses? Event is made possible with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.