WaterAid calls for UK leadership as global cities besieged by flood and drought risk

The world’s 100 most populated cities are becoming increasingly exposed to floods and droughts — as governments around the world slash the aid budgets providing global health and climate security. That’s according to a major new report from WaterAid.

It found 17% of the cities studied are experiencing 'climate whiplash' — intensifying droughts and floods — while another 20% have seen a major flip from one extreme to the other. Notably, cities in Southern Asia including Colombo, Faisalabad, and Lahore are becoming overwhelmingly flood-prone, while European cities are drying.

All European cities analysed exhibit drying trends over the last 42 years, including Madrid, Paris and London — which could lead to the region facing more frequent and long-lasting droughts. Madrid ranked second on the list of cities experiencing a flip to extreme dry conditions.

The study found that weather-related disasters have increased by 400% in the last 50 years, putting major pressure on vital water access and sanitation systems, and making it harder for communities and economies to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to climate change.

WaterAid said it was doing what it can to help, but that the response should not be for civil society alone. It called for the UK Government to:

• Show leadership by upholding its foreign aid commitments and protecting its promise to fund climate adaptation efforts, to tackle the water crisis.

• Protect its current International Climate Finance commitments and invest a third of its adaptation budget in water action.

• Leverage collective action and work with development partners, multilateral banks and the private sector to unlock investment to manage water risks.

• Launch an international water security strategy and imbed action on the water crisis across all areas of UK foreign policy.