Water Crisis and Climate Change
Prof. Dr. Rana Kıdak, faculty member of the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of Cyprus International University (CIU), evaluated the deepening global water crisis, the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle, and the reflections of this process in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Emphasizing that climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water use are increasingly intensifying pressure on water resources, Kıdak noted that according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, the rise in global temperatures has led to irregularities in precipitation patterns and an increase in extreme weather events. Drawing attention to the sudden and intense rainfall events experienced in recent years in the TRNC, which have caused floods and inundations, Kıdak stated that these developments clearly demonstrate the tangible local impacts of climate change. She underlined that water management should be addressed not only with a drought-focused perspective but also through a holistic approach that includes sudden rainfall and flood risks. Kıdak emphasized that integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation strategies, and public–university collaboration are of critical importance in this process. Within the scope of sustainability practices carried out at CIU, all wastewater produced on campus is recycled and used for irrigation purposes; by reusing approximately 1,300 tons of water annually, a concrete contribution is made to the protection of water resources.
1. In your opinion, what are the main dynamics behind the deepening water crisis today?
At the global level, climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water use stand out as the main factors driving the deepening water crisis. As emphasized in IPCC reports, the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has raised the global average temperature by approximately 1.1°C; this has accelerated the hydrological cycle, increased evaporation, and led to significant irregularities in precipitation regimes.
2. How should the effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle be evaluated?
Climate change directly affects the hydrological cycle, leading to both prolonged drought periods and more frequent sudden and intense rainfall events. These extreme events at opposite ends of the spectrum complicate water resource management and increase environmental risks.
3. How should the flood event that occurred in the TRNC on December 9, 2025, be interpreted in the context of climate change?
This event clearly demonstrates how changes in the global climate system produce concrete consequences at the local level. The rainfall reaching approximately 232 kg per square meter indicates that precipitation levels were well above local averages and that climate change-related extreme weather events are increasing. In our region, especially during winter months, heavy rainfall leads to floods that cause both material and moral damages. From a management perspective, such rainfall represents a significant water resource potential for the summer period. However, due to insufficient and poorly maintained water storage structures (dams), the rainfall turns into surface runoff and is lost, while also increasing water pollution, putting pressure on infrastructure, and threatening public health due to flooding.
4. Why should water management in the TRNC be addressed through the concept of “simultaneous crises”?
In the TRNC, long-term problems such as drought and water scarcity are experienced on the one hand, while on the other hand, flood risks arise due to sudden and intense rainfall. This situation makes it necessary to address water management not through a one-dimensional perspective but through a holistic approach that encompasses simultaneous crises.
5. Why does integrated water resources management become inevitable in this context?
The multidimensional nature of current problems makes integrated water resources management essential. Science-based practices such as rainwater harvesting, strengthening drainage infrastructure, flood early warning systems, sustainable land use, and the reuse of treated water constitute the main components of this approach.
6. Finally, which priorities should be emphasized to reduce the impacts of changes in the water cycle?
Developing climate change adaptation strategies, expanding sustainable water management practices, and increasing public awareness are among the primary priorities. In this process, public–university collaboration plays an important role in terms of scientific knowledge production and policy development.