In recent years, extreme weather events around the world have spotlighted the urgent challenges facing water systems amid climate change. From devastating glacier collapses in Nepal to flooding and mudslides in western Canada, the impacts of shifting hydrological cycles are prompting intensified research and policy focus on water security.

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are at the forefront of efforts to understand and address these evolving challenges. John Pomeroy, director of the Centre for Hydrology and Global Water Futures Observatories, highlights the accelerated retreat of glaciers such as the Peyto Glacier in the Canadian Rockies, which has receded more than half a kilometre in the past five years alone. These changes, driven largely by climate change, not only affect local water availability but also have broader economic, social, and environmental consequences. Canada’s freshwater systems, heavily reliant on frozen sources like glaciers and mountain snowpack, face irregular water supplies, deteriorating quality, and heightened vulnerability to flooding, drought, and wildfires.

The Global Institute for Water Security, also based at USask, emphasizes the importance of building community resilience in the face of increasing water-related extremes such as atmospheric rivers, droughts, and wildfires. Executive director Corinne Schuster-Wallace underscores that managing water security involves balancing the competing demands for water across households, economic sectors, and ecosystems while maintaining equitable access. Her team’s approach focuses on interdisciplinary research and collaborative solutions that integrate water with related factors including energy, food, climate, and health.

USask’s leadership in water research has grown from foundational interdisciplinary work initiated in 1962 to a globally recognized program. Vice-president Research Baljit Singh notes that local partnerships have been crucial to crafting relevant questions and solutions, especially as Saskatchewan’s population grows alongside expansions in agriculture, mining, and energy sectors including plans for nuclear power plants and data centers. The university’s infrastructure, expertise, and collaborative culture have attracted top scholars and positioned Canada among the world’s leaders in water resources research, a status reflected in international academic rankings.

The link between local research and global impact is a central theme. Pomeroy points out that while Canadians often assume abundant water supplies, geographic and seasonal variability complicates management. Reliable data from Global Water Futures Observatories—consisting of 12 universities and supporting hundreds of researchers—enables improved monitoring of hydrological processes such as glacier melt, permafrost thaw, and water chemistry changes. These efforts contribute to national and international initiatives, including UNESCO’s Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034), which USask helps lead.

Collaboration extends beyond Canada to other regions dependent on cryospheric water sources, including Central Asia, South America, and Europe. Sharing data and strategies enhances global preparedness for water-related risks. Pomeroy advocates for strengthened flood forecasting systems in Canada and improved early-warning mechanisms in vulnerable mountain regions like Nepal, underscoring the necessity of proactive adaptation.

While climate-driven water challenges are complex and mounting, USask researchers express cautious optimism. Continued emission reductions combined with expanded observation and forecasting capabilities can mitigate impacts and support societies in managing increasingly unpredictable water cycles and extreme events. As the effects of climate change unfold, integrated science and policy efforts remain critical to ensuring water security for communities at local and global scales.