Synergies overcome trade-offs between climate policy and water-related SDG targets

Abstract

The United Nations has reported that the world is off track to achieve water sustainability and this has been exac-erbated by climate change. Studies indicate that water-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) have significant synergies and trade-offs involving various sectors. We measure the synergies and trade-offs between climate actions (mitigation and adaptation) and five water-related SDG targets based on a global numerical simulation driven by climate change and socioeconomic scenarios. We found that synergies outweigh trade-offs in all regions regarding water-related targets, with an approximately five-fold dif-ference in the globally affected population. The main trade-off source is increased water use due to economic development in Africa and Central/South America, and increased irrigation water if bio-energy crop production is enhanced in Africa, suggesting that more coordinated policy-making is needed between climate action and water management.