Abstract

Abstract

In the about two years of implementation of the study project on the “Water Science & Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050”, following studies had been conducted.

• 1) Systematic analysis of the basic characteristics, influencing factors, and trend of change of China’s water issues; explanation of the diversity, transforming characteristics, river basin specific features, and uncertainty of China’s water issues; analysis of the impact of climate change and humanity factors on water issues; and the development trend of China’s water issues.

• 2) Comprehensive review of the dynamics and trend of science & technology development in the field of water resource both at home and abroad, identifying the gap between China and other countries in relevant research areas, and pointing out the scientific puzzles and technological bottlenecks which are of commonality.

• 3) Foreign case of some roadmaps that had been developed for science & technology development in water resource related fields. Review of China’s science & technology development plans that were developed in recent years in the field of water resource. And, based on the above, summarizing the methods of developing roadmap in terms of objectives, methodology, and process.

• 4) The road ahead to 2050 for China’s water science & technology had been developed in terms of three time horizons→short term ( to 2020), medium term (to 2030), and long term (to 2050), and five sub-fields.water resources, water environment, water ecology, water disaster, and water management, following a basic framework that is country needs→development goal→science & technology issues → key technologies.

• 5) Putting forward country’s need of science & technology development up to 2050 in the field of water resource and the strategic guiding principles of addressing water issue. Developing a “comprehensive roadmap to 2050 for water science & technology” and roadmaps for five sub-fields according three dimensions of development goal, science & technology issue, and key technologies.

• 6) Based on the study of multi-dimensional roadmaps, the key science & technology issues in basic research, forward-looking technological R & D, river basin study and management, and regional water resource were identified, that China is facing now and will be facing in the future in dealing with water issues and that merit great attention and should be studied on as soon as possible.