Pacific Institute Launches Water Security Research Project

Goal: Develop Climate Resilience Strategies

28 Jul 2022 by The Water Diplomat
OAKLAND CA, United States

The Pacific institute, an US non-partisan think tank which focuses on water issues has announced  its new Water and Climate Equity Strategy for the United States.

This research project, to be implemented by 2030, intends to provide tailored, evidence-based research and climate resilience strategies for communities at the forefront of water insecurity and climate change. In particular, the project will focus on the impacts of climate change and water insecurity among rural communities, low-income communities and communities of colour across the United States.

Dr. Shannon McNeeley, Senior Researcher and Water and Climate Equity Lead for the Pacific Institute said: “Millions of people in the United States still lack access to clean water, lack basic plumbing, or rely on water systems with safety violations. Frontline communities often endure the worst of this water insecurity, with disproportionate impacts to low-income communities, communities of color, Indigenous communities, and rural areas.”

The Pacific Institute was one of the first research institutions to call global attention to the global water crisis. In addition, it has supported research in the area of Human Right to Water and contributed to a historical database on water and conflict. For this project they are partnering up with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN), and non-profit organisation DigDeep.

At the launch of the research project George McGraw, Founder and CEO of DigDeep, raised some of the key research questions for the programme: "How will climate change impact our water and wastewater systems? Which communities are most at risk of falling into the ‘water access gap’ in the future? Perhaps most importantly, what can we do to help vulnerable communities adapt? Partnering with the Pacific Institute will help us to answer these important questions and others.”