Science-policy dialogues for water security : addressing vulnerability and adaptation to global change in the arid Americas

Given the multidimensional nature of vulnerability, where climate interacts with many other stressors, adaptation ought to feature in national and regional development priorities. Based on ongoing experience, the following conditions can be considered as essential for successful science-policy dialogues: inclusivity, involvement, interaction, and influence. Allocating available water resources, monitoring environmental impacts, and abating pollution have historically been the purview of government agencies. The problem more often than not is lack of capacity (funds, staff, or knowledge). But with rising decentralization, businesses and communities are expected to assume a growing responsibility to ensure water security