Abstract
Climate change linked to human activities is affecting natural systems, increasing frequency and severity of water-related hazards. The issue of climate change pushes to tackle the expected risks in the water sector through a comprehensive and global view, with a revision of the paradigms considered as drivers of water resources development. Based on the evolution of these paradigms in Italy the main characteristics of an adaptive approach to climate change and other global changes are discussed relatively to water infrastructures, legislative and institutional frameworks. The objective of adaptation strategies is the increase of resilience of water systems, emphasizing the capability of reducing both physical and socio-political vulnerability, improving the governance of water services. Starting from the analysis of the evolution of water management, priorities for coping with future challenges are discussed with reference to the reduction of the risk of water shortage due to drought, to the mitigation of flood risk, and to the issues concerning the water-food-energy nexus.