Como uno de los países más vulnerables al cambio climático y con una gran dependencia del sistema fluvial del Indo para la agricultura, Pakistán se enfrenta a riesgos cada vez mayores derivados del aumento de las temperaturas, los cambios en las precipitaciones y la creciente variabilidad estacional en el deshielo de la nieve y los glaciares. La modelización de escenarios de cambio climático indica que, si se mantiene la situación actual, estas presiones supondrán graves amenazas para los medios de vida de los agricultores y para el sector agrícola en general. Es esencial disponer de información fiable, transparente y desglosada por sectores sobre el origen del agua, cómo se almacena y cómo se consume para orientar la cuenca hacia una gestión hídrica más resiliente y sostenible.

Con el apoyo de la FAO, el proyecto desarrollará un sistema de contabilidad hídrica que maximice el uso de la teledetección por satélite, complementado con datos in situ para la introducción de datos y la validación. El trabajo abarca cuatro resultados clave:

  1. Revisar críticamente los borradores de informes de contabilidad hídrica y los materiales de formación existentes elaborados por las partes interesadas, identificando las lagunas en la metodología y los conjuntos de datos
  2. Desarrollar una metodología holística de contabilidad hídrica que tenga en cuenta los recursos hídricos disponibles, los cambios en el almacenamiento, los caudales de salida, el uso del agua y la demanda en los sectores agrícola, industrial, doméstico y medioambiental
  3. Crear un sistema de contabilidad hídrica calibrado y validado, compuesto por modelos y códigos, basado en software libre y de código abierto, capaz de generar resultados de contabilidad hídrica para la cuenca del Indo y dos provincias
  4. Elaborar informes de contabilidad hídrica para la cuenca del Indo, el Punyab y Sindh, incluyendo las brechas históricas entre la oferta y la demanda, los balances hídricos y los mapas de distribución espacial.

Para garantizar que el sistema sea sostenible y de titularidad local, FutureWater impartirá una formación práctica y exhaustiva a los funcionarios del Gobierno, lo que les permitirá no solo ejecutar los modelos, sino también comprender la teoría subyacente y modificar el sistema en el futuro. Mediante la integración de modelos hidrológicos avanzados, la estimación de la evapotranspiración basada en la energía y la clasificación más reciente del uso del suelo, el sistema de contabilidad hídrica resultante proporcionará al Gobierno de Pakistán una herramienta potente y replicable para apoyar una agricultura y una gestión del agua resilientes al clima en toda la cuenca del Indo.

FutureWater, junto con la oficina regional de la FAO para Oriente Medio y Norte de África, presentó el anteproyecto de una nueva herramienta de apoyo a la toma de decisiones en el taller interregional de la FAO sobre «Enfoques integrados y buenas prácticas basadas en pruebas en la gestión sostenible de la tierra para promover la integración del nexo WEFE». La herramienta está diseñada para utilizar datos de contabilidad hídrica para evaluar y equilibrar el uso sectorial y la demanda de recursos dentro del nexo agua-energía-alimentación-ecosistema (WEFE).

Al taller, organizado por la Plataforma Técnica Interregional sobre la Escasez de Agua (iRTP) de la FAO, asistieron expertos de Oriente Medio y Norte de África y del África subsahariana, como Yemen, Malawi, Egipto, Jordania, Argelia, Marruecos, Túnez, Botsuana, Zimbabue y Tanzania. Esta diversa reunión creó un valioso espacio para el intercambio interregional sobre las mejores prácticas en la gestión sostenible de la tierra y el agua.

La presentación de FutureWater puso de relieve cómo la herramienta, actualmente en desarrollo, pretende apoyar la planificación basada en pruebas y la asignación de recursos en sectores que compiten entre sí. La nueva iniciativa se basa en trabajos anteriores del Programa de la FAO sobre la escasez de agua en Asia y el Pacífico y aporta un enfoque sistémico a la gestión integrada de los recursos.

Fue especialmente alentador recibir un gran interés de varios países por probar la herramienta, lo que refuerza la urgente necesidad de soluciones escalables y basadas en datos que puedan apoyar el desarrollo sostenible en regiones con escasez de agua.

FutureWater se enorgullece de contribuir a la promoción de enfoques integrados para la gestión de la tierra y el agua y espera con interés las próximas etapas de desarrollo y pruebas piloto.

La Plataforma Técnica Interregional sobre Escasez de Agua (iRTP-WS), liderada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO), busca cerrar brechas entre la práctica y la innovación para impulsar un cambio transformador en la gestión del agua, la tierra y la agricultura, especialmente ante el cambio climático. Su enfoque está en fortalecer la preparación de los sistemas para afrontar desafíos relacionados con el agua, la alimentación y el clima mediante una mejor gobernanza, desarrollo de capacidades y aprendizaje en línea.

Para 2024-2025, el plan de trabajo se centra en «Soluciones Integradas para el Agua: Navegando el Cambio Climático y la Dinámica del Nexo Agua-Energía-Alimentos-Ecosistemas (WEFE)». La Oficina Regional de la FAO para Asia y el Pacífico lidera la Prioridad Estratégica 1: Pensamiento Nexus, promoviendo una toma de decisiones inclusiva y multisectorial para optimizar el uso de los recursos e implementar soluciones sostenibles basadas en WEFE.

Para respaldar la toma de decisiones basada en el enfoque nexus, la FAO, en colaboración con FutureWater, está desarrollando una herramienta que aprovecha los datos de Water Accounting para proporcionar información accesible sobre la dinámica de WEFE. Esta herramienta integrará WEAP y su API en un entorno de Excel, facilitando el análisis de escenarios tanto para proyecciones como para intervenciones. Al combinar las fortalezas de ambas plataformas, ofrecerá un enfoque intuitivo, estandarizado y colaborativo de Water Accounting, contribuyendo a un marco de toma de decisiones más armonizado.

Vista esquemática de la herramienta WatNEX de FutureWater.

The International Soil and Water Forum, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, brought together over 500 participants from 55+ countries in Bangkok in December 2024.

Shared experiences under the four thematic areas: i) managing water scarcity, ii) reversing land degradation and boosting land restoration, iii) sustainable soil management and iv) integrated climate resilient and, soil and water management, provided a holistic overview of the status, challenges, best practices and potential opportunities for achieving water and food security while maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Key government officials from countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, Egypt, Peru and Nepal highlighted the importance of decision-making based on scientific evidence and acknowledged data availability, accessibility, affordability and utilisation as major issues in developing countries. Comprising of 3 plenary sessions, 16 thematic sessions and 9 side events, the forum was successful in getting the ‘Ministerial Declaration on managing water scarcity and reversing soil degradation for sustainable and resilient agrifood systems’ endorsed by ministers and representatives from 27 countries.  

During the forum, Peter Droogers and Tania Imran from FutureWater presented the ongoing work on Water Accounting under FAO’s Water Scarcity Program running across 5 countries (Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Mongolia and Indonesia). In collaboration with FAO’s NENA office, FutureWater also hosted the Inter-Regional Policy Dialogue on WEFE nexus and presented the newly developed tool ‘REWEFe’ (Rapid evaluation of Water, Energy, Food and ecosystem) which quantifies the inter- and intra-linkages within the four sectors.  

Peter Droogers presenting REWEFe
Panel discussion
Participants of the forum

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering supporting the (re)construction of four wastewater treatment plants in Stepnogorsk, Satpaev, Zhezkazgan, and Balkhash. Detailed engineering designs are being prepared by designers recruited by Vodokanals. Climate change impacts may exacerbate environmental pollution and other adverse effects of aging infrastructure on service delivery. FutureWater conducted a Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) to ensure that climate impacts are fully considered in the detailed design and construction phases.

The CRA identified the main vulnerability components for the four proposed wastewater treatment plants as: (i) extreme precipitation leading to stormwater runoff, (ii) low flows causing water quality problems, (iii) flooding of infrastructure (both fluvial and pluvial), (iv) power supply outages, and (v) heat stress. FutureWater’s risk assessment, which considered the combined effects of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure, concluded that all five major identified risks require attention. Since the draft designs already account for the current extreme climate conditions, and due to relatively modest projected climate changes (temperature, precipitation, wind), the need for additional adaptation measures will be relatively modest.

FutureWater’s assessment contributed to ensuring that the four wastewater treatment plants will be climate-resilient, thereby securing the investment.

Golovnaya hydropower plant is located 80 kilometers south of Dushanbe and has an installed generation capacity of 240 MW, making it the fourth largest hydropower plant in Tajikistan, after Nurek (3,000 MW), Sangtuda 1 (670 MW), and Baipaza (600 MW). Construction began in 1956, with the first unit commissioned in 1962. Since then, except for one unit, the plant has not undergone significant modernization or improvements to maintain its original performance in terms of efficiency, reliability, safety, or to reduce operation and maintenance costs. Consequently, most of the main electro-mechanical and hydro-mechanical equipment is now in poor condition.

The current project, for which FutureWater conducted a climate risk assessment (CRA), aims to include the rehabilitation of generation Unit 4 of the hydropower plant, which was not part of the ongoing efforts. Unit 4 is expected to add approximately 49 MW to the overall plant capacity. The CRA report evaluated the climate risk and adaptation prospects of the additional project and provides recommendations to enhance its adaptability and climate resilience, further securing this investment.

FutureWater supported this project by conducting a comprehensive review of climate and climate change research, studies, reports, and data related to the Golovnaya hydropower plant. Key findings include: (i) the project should be analyzed within the context of the entire Vakhsh River basin and system; (ii) the operations of upstream reservoirs and hydropower facilities will have a greater impact on Golovnaya than climate change itself; (iii) climate change will affect upstream facilities and thereby indirectly impact Golovnaya. The overall conclusion was that for the specific project (rehabilitating hydropower turbines), the climate risk is relatively low.

FutureWater’s impact was contributing to ensuring that the Golovnaya rehabilitation project will be climate-resilient, thereby securing the investment.

The Lower Chao Phraya region of Thailand is facing increasingly frequent and severe flooding events, which pose significant threats to the livelihoods, safety, and economic stability of local communities. These floods have caused extensive property damage, crop loss, and displacement, thereby hindering overall development in the region. Contributing to these climate-induced flood vulnerabilities are the aging irrigation canal systems, which are inadequate for managing more intense floods, thus exacerbating water-related risks and long-term economic losses. This inefficiency constrains agricultural productivity, perpetuates poverty, and impedes sustainable development.

In response to these challenges, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is advancing the Enhancing Climate Resilience and Adaptation of the Lower Eastern Chao Phraya Water System Project. The project aims to modernize the aging irrigation infrastructure—comprising canals, regulation gates, and pumping stations—by repurposing them into climate-resilient flood mitigation systems. This initiative seeks to improve water resource management, enhance climate adaptation, mitigate environmental degradation, and mobilize resources for sustainable development.

FutureWater has supported this project by conducting a comprehensive review of significant climate and climate change research, studies, reports, data, and information related to floods and droughts in Thailand from both governmental and non-governmental entities. This included analyzing the availability, quality, and accessibility of climate-related data collected across various regions in Thailand, and identifying data gaps. Additionally, FutureWater evaluated the methodologies, tools, and technologies used for climate data collection, analysis, and modeling to assess their reliability and effectiveness.

FutureWater’s contributions included: (i) identifying strengths and weaknesses in Thailand’s national and international climate commitments, (ii) highlighting the importance of distinguishing between pluvial and fluvial flooding, and (iii) assessing current and projected return periods for temperature, rainfall, and sea level rise. Recommendations were provided regarding the direction in which a comprehensive Climate Risk Assessment should be developed during the design phase of the project.

The second Water Accounting training under FAO’s Water Scarcity Program took place from 13 – 18 November in Bangkok. Participants from various governmental departments and academic institutions gained practical experience in utilizing different geospatial and water resources modeling tools for developing a water account.  

As part of the Water Scarcity Program (WSP), FutureWater designed and delivered a two-phase water accounting training program in Thailand. The WSP, designed by FAO-RAP and partners, aims to bring agricultural water use within sustainable limits and prepare the sector for a productive future with less water. The program aims to assess the ongoing issue of water scarcity in the region, evaluate potential management options, and assist partner countries to implement adaptive management in the agriculture water sector using innovative tools and approaches.  

The first phase of the training primarily focused on introducing and better understanding the concept of water accounting, its components and approaches. Participants worked with tools such as REWAS and Follow the Water (developed by FutureWater in collaboration with FAO) to conduct water accounting in agricultural systems at different scales.  

The second phase of the training aimed at extracting, processing and analysing data for the Pa Sak basin to build a water account. Participants analysed trends in precipitation, evapotranspiration, and land use using Google Earth Engine and developed a WEAP model to assess water availability and shortages under different scenarios. The training was followed by a visit to the Pa Sak basin where the participants gained insights from different water users and managers. These included the water user group at Kaeng Khoi-Ban Mo Joint Management Committee for irrigation, Pa Sak Jolasid dam and hydropower operators, Nong Khae industrial estate managers and provincial waterworks authority officials responsible for water supply.  

In the coming months, FutureWater will focus on providing technical inputs for the regional WSP events and highlight the technical challenges of implementing water accounting and allocation in Southeast Asia for the WSP High Level Technical Meeting scheduled in June 2024. 

Participants working in pairs to analyse precipitation trends during wet and dry seasons in Pa Sak Basin using Google Earth Engine
Developing and interpreting the WEAP model results under different scenarios
Visit to the Jolasid Dam and Hydropower Plant in the Pa Sak Basin

 

 

The first annual meeting of BONEX took place from 30 May – 1 June in Jordan where all consortium partners came together to present their progress, highlight challenges and outline the next steps.

The project aims to promote the practical implementation of water, energy, food and ecosystem (WEFe) nexus through context-adapted technological innovations across seven countries in the Mediterranean region. As part of the project, FutureWater has been developing a tool, REWEF (Realistic Evaluation of Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem nexus), that quantifies the linkages between the four sectors of the WEFe nexus and allows users to assess the impact of different interventions and scenarios on the system.

While the tool is still under development, a preliminary assessment of the demonstration site in the Axarquia region (Spain) was carried out. The impacts of different climate (drought) and socioeconomic (increasing irrigated land and population) scenarios on the water, energy, food and ecosystem sectors in the Axarquia region were assessed and presented at the annual meeting. Coordinators and members leading the Demonstration Projects (DPs) within BONEX expressed their interest in using the tool to analyze the status of the WEFe nexus at their respective sites.

In the coming months, FutureWater will be further developing and testing the tool in close collaboration with the DP leaders to evaluate the WEFe nexus in their respective regions.

For more information about BONEX (funded by PRIMA programme), please click here and also visit the official website.

BONEX consortium members visit the Demonstration Project in Jordan
The Demonstration Project in Jordan consists of solar powered hydroponic farming of cucumbers
Presenting the REWEF tool to the stakeholders at the German Jordanian University (GJU,Madaba)