In Asia and elsewhere the interplay between the challenge of sustainability and climate change poses major policy challenges . The pursuit of SDG 6-protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, improvement in water quality by reducing pollution, elimination of dumping and significant reduction in release of hazardous chemicals and materials, and treatment of waste water through recycling and safe reuse globally-could be directly or indirectly challenged and undermined by climate change . Dissolved organic materials from sewage can enhance CO2 emissions, especially in rapidly urbanising river systems which receive untreated waste water and/or sewage across developing countries . Conversely, policy interventions aimed at significant augmentation in water-use efficiency across all sectors, ensuring sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and a significant reduction in the number of victims of water scarcity, especially the poor and marginalised, could mitigate vulnerabilities caused by climate change. More interdisciplinary research is needed on highly precarious future pathways and the intersection between CIDs and non-climate drivers in order to anticipate and mitigate diverging and uncertain outcomes.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report