Advancing Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in the Water Sector: An Overview of Research from the Water Research Foundation

Climate impacts and extreme events are altering our natural hydrologic cycle, creating uncertainty when it comes to the quantity and quality of water resources. Interdisciplinary research conducted by the Water Research Foundation (WRF) helps the water sector plan for projected climate impacts, advance implementation of climate adaptation strategies, and mitigate related root causes such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of WRF’s robust climate-related research, which covers climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and climate risk assessment. Several sub-categories in the field of climate adaptation, such as flood/wet weather management, water supply/drought resilience, and wildfire impact mitigation, are also covered in this research portfolio. In summary, WRF has been at the forefront of research on a new climate paradigm facing utilities and municipalities, offering sound science to help the water sector tackle these challenges and plan for uncertain times. WRF’s One Water research approach helps communities assess potential risks, adapt to the effects on water sources and services, and develop solutions that reduce GHG emissions through holistic climate adaptation and mitigation measures.