Water and Climate: Rising Risks for Urban Populations
WaterAid
Download
Abstract: This report by WaterAid examines how climate change is amplifying water-related risks in urban areas, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Analyzing 112 cities globally?including African cities like Khartoum and Dar es Salaam?the report highlights shifts in climatic hazards such as floods and droughts over 42 years. It introduces the concept of ?climate whiplash? where cities swing between wet and dry extremes, straining already fragile infrastructure. The research aligns climate hazard patterns with social and infrastructural vulnerabilities, revealing how the most climate-exposed cities often house the most socially marginalized communities. Emphasis is placed on the need for climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems as foundational to adaptation, development, and public health.