The Water Research Foundation has undertaken the Climate Change Strategic Initiative to establish a research program focused on impacts of climate change on water supplies. The Foundation will commit up to $1 million in funding per year for the initiative, which is expected to be substantially leveraged with partner co-funding and researcher in-kind contributions. The initiative will be sustained until the objectives outlined below are achieved; the target timeframe for the initiative is 5-7 years.

Climate change is expected to present profound challenges to the water industry in the future. In many cases, these challenges are already present. Water agencies in the United States and other countries have already begun to consider the possible impacts and plan responses to these impacts. They have also begun work on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions contributed by water management practices. As the water industry looks at these challenges, it also needs to look holistically at the critical interdependence and competitive forces and demands of various industry sectors. To plan effectively, it is important to understand the relationship between climate change and water quality and quantity issues, as well as the impacts of climate change at different points in the hydrologic cycle. It is also important to understand how utilities can effectively engage customers, regulators, and other stakeholders in these planning efforts to help ensure support for the water supply changes that climate change will necessitate.

Historically, the Water Research Foundation has funded a significant number of projects that may be relevant to the impacts of climate change. With the establishment of the Climate Change Strategic Initiative, the Foundation will enhance its efforts to address climate change challenges by developing a sustained, multi-year, integrated research effort built around achieving specific long-term objectives.