ACCWA

Picture of river, provided by Helen Wood

Approaching Climate Change for Water Resource Adaptation

Global water research

ACCWA is an international project that promotes and encourages collaborative water research and associated teaching activity across the WUN and beyond. The project seeks to evaluate the social, economic and environmental effects of climate change on water resources and impacts on global water governance through a multi- and interdisciplinary approach. Key features of the project include:

  • Evaluating current processes, procedures and practices to establish a baseline for water resource management;
  • Modelling of future scenarios for climate change predictions;
  • Investigating adaptations needed to manage predicted changes to water resources.

Water across disciplines

Through the development of new tools and interdisciplinary techniques, the project will address some of the major issues that cut across natural, social and political science disciplines in water resource management. Three interlinked work packages operate within the network:

  • WP1 natural/physical science of the hydrological cycle to predict changes to catchment, river and/or estuarine dynamics as a consequence of climate change.
  • WP2 social and economic factors associated with predicted changes to water resource availability due to climate change factors.
  • WP3 current and future roles of policy networks and governance in the mitigation of prevention of negative environmental, social or economic impacts resulting from climate change.

Water across boundaries

Professor Joseph Holden is leading the ACCWA project at the University of Leeds and is Director of water@leeds which is itself a large interdisciplinary research group.

“ACCWA focuses on bringing together international scientists from a number of WUN institutions to discuss the future for global water resources – looking at real-world water issues and particularly the impact of climate change,” said Prof Holden.

The ACCWA project will expand over the next few years to encompass more disciplines and consider further global challenges. Linking to the Water Quality Network, the ACCWA project is involved in the delivery of the Water Quality 2010 conference (23-24 June 2010) at the University of Leeds. Future events including a virtual seminar series and workshops will further develop the ACCWA approach to major water issues.