This Perspective paper is part of a series of sixteen papers on Water and Climate Adaptation discussed during the 5th WWF in Istanbul. Climate change is going to require a re-examination of current approaches in water management, as well as in the design of many components of urban settlements and economic and social infrastructure generally. This paper advocates for better water resources management if communities are to adapt to climate changes. Properly implemented, an IWRM approach is inherently adaptive as it should both inform water users about water challenges and provide a framework through which such challenges can be addressed.
