communities”.312 She also observed human rights issues related to consolidation strategies of
the Maldivian authorities, who forced the displacement of inhabitants from less populated
islands to one island in order to achieve economies of scale for costly investments in services
and infrastructure in response to climate change. This relocation provoked serious conflicts
amongst individuals and communities, and delayed the construction of housing units.313
Indeed, by the end of 2008, there were still approximately 3,700 displaced persons living in
temporary accommodations.314 Increased migration to the capital has also intensified
pressure on housing affordability in Maldives, worsening overcrowding and inadequate living
conditions. The Special Rapporteur recommended that the State and international
organizations raise awareness at the local level to enhance transparency and public
participation in decision-making processes.315
Right to Water
As climate change places increased pressure on the right to water, States must ensure that
consideration of this right is mainstreamed across all adaptation planning, and takes into
account the need for water in the agricultural sector and health sectors, and for hygiene, as
well as for consumption.
Safeguarding the right to water also requires adaptation policies and projects that target
action at the right scale in order to ensure that one community’s increased access to water
resources does not adversely impact downstream communities. Information transfer across
regions and project types is key to ensuring that lessons learned are shared.316
CASE STUDY: The Pangani River Basin Management Project in Tanzania (20022011)
The Pangani river basin covers an area of 43,650 km2. 95% of this area is located in
Tanzania, and 5% in Kenya. In recent times, factors such as population growth,
deforestation, the expansion of cultivated land, and increased livestock production, fishing,
mining and hydroelectric activities, combined with cycles of drought and flood exacerbated
by climate change have challenged the sustainability of the Pangani river basin. The threat to
water security and increasing water demand have led to tensions between various
stakeholders within the basin.317
In response to these challenges, the Pangani Basin Water Board (PBWB) decided to
implement an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach in 2002. With the
support of a range of international organizations, the PBWB established the Pangani River
Basin Management Project to provide a forum for continued dialogue about water
management issues and climate threats amongst different stakeholders in the basin. In the
context of this project, an environmental flow assessment was carried out by specialists from
a range of disciplines to gather information on hydrology and the economic, social and
ecological impacts of changes in river flow regimes. Based on this information, numerous
scenarios were developed, providing stakeholders with an understanding of the social,
economic and environmental impacts of different water allocations.318
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