Vulnerability to global environmental changes in Argentina: opportunities for upgrading regional water resources management strategies.
There is evidence of the increasing economic losses from extreme natural events during the last decades. These facts, thought to be triggered by environmental changes coupled with inefficient management and policies, highlight particularly exposed and vulnerable regions worldwide. Argentina faces several challenges associated with global environmental change and climate variability, especially related to water resources management including extreme floods and droughts. At the same time, the country's production capacity (i.e. natural resource-based commodities) and future development opportunities are closely tied to the sustainable development of its natural resource endowments. Given that vulnerability is registered not only by exposure to hazards (perturbations and stresses), but also resides in the sensitivity and resilience of the system experiencing such hazards, Argentina will need to improve its water management capacities to reduce its vulnerability to climate variability and change. This paper presents the basic components of the vulnerability analysis and suggests how it can be used to define efficient water management options.
Bereciartua
P J
PJ
School of Engineering, University of Buenos Aires, and Advanced Institute on Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change (START-IIASA), Olazabal 1938, C1 428DHO Buenos Aires, Argentina. pberec@fi.uba.ar
D001118:Argentina; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004190:Disasters; D004777:Environment; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014881:Water Supply / Q000191:economics*