Redefining water scarcity through the integrated water strategic resilience index amid climate and conflict pressures

作者：Filippo Verre, Krishna Mohan Kumar, Ronny Berndtsson, Hossein Hashemi · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-026-42170-2 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Water Resources and Sustainability、Transboundary Water Resource Management、Water management and technologies

Water scarcity is a dynamic condition influenced by a variety of factors, including environmental variables but also political, economic, technological, and social variables. This research reflects the intersection of natural resources, governance, and human systems. Redefining water scarcity is a crucial factor for greater sustainable management in the face of increasing climate variability and geopolitical stress. The traditional water scarcity indices overlook the cumulative impact of climate change, socio-economic patterns, governance, and policies. To bridge this gap, we propose the Integrated Water Strategic Resilience Index (IWSRI), a novel, multidisciplinary index that quantifies water scarcity on the basis of water availability, quality, climate resilience, and socio-political considerations. By integrating hydrological, environmental, and socio-political factors, IWSRI can potentially serve policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with an interdisciplinary tool for strategic water resource planning. This study outlines the theoretical and mathematical foundations of IWSRI, highlighting its ability to enhance decision-making in transboundary water management, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development. The application of IWSRI is particularly relevant for regions facing severe water stress and political instability, where water availability is both an environmental and security challenge. MENA countries, Israel, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE possess high wate...