Probabilistic trade-offs analysis for sustainable and equitable
management of climate-induced water risks
Abstract
Pressures on water resources are fueling conflicts between sectors. This
trend will likely worsen under future climate-induced water stress,
jeopardizing food, energy and human water security in most arid and
semi-arid regions. Probabilistic analysis using stochastic optimization
modeling can characterize multi-sector vulnerabilities and risks
associated with future water stress. This study identifies the
probabilistic trade-offs between agricultural, urban and energy sectors
in the Ebro Basin (Spain). Two intervention policies have been examined
and compared: (i) agricultural priority, and (ii) energy priority, for
two planning horizons 2040-2070 and 2070-2100. Results show that the
human water security goal is achieved under both intervention policies.
However, the achievement of the food and energy security goals depends
on the policy objectives and on the spatial location of irrigation
schemes and hydropower plants, which result in different stream flows
across the basin. The policy choice results in substantially different
benefit gains and losses by sector and therefore by location. None of
the sectoral production priority policy provides an equitable sharing of
benefits among all sectors and locations under climate change, which is
an important issue, because the success or failure of policy
interventions would depend on the distribution of the gains and losses
of benefits across the basin. Policy uptake by stakeholders would depend
on reaching win-win outcomes where losers are compensated, while
delivering acceptable levels of food, energy and human water security in
large river basins. Information on the probabilistic trade-offs
contributes to design water management strategies capable of addressing
the multi-sector vulnerability.