Abstract:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has projected that the global mean surface temperature will rise by 2.0 - 4.5°C by 2100 due to increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Climate variability is also projected to increase, leading to uncertain onsets of monsoons and more frequent extremes of weather, such as more severe droughts and floods. These environmental changes are known to of all aspects of the hydrological cycle, which, in turn, may alter the balance between food demand and supply in time and space in many parts of the world. Regions such as South Asia and Africa are expected to be particularly vulnerable to these environmental changes due to their large population, predominance in agriculture and limited resource base. To ensure future water and food security, greater attention is now needed on adaptations to climatic change, which include among others increased investment in adaptation and mitigation research, improved land use and natural resource management policies, and improved risk management though early warning system and crop insurance.
