Climate Change and Water Crisis
(Case Study, Mashhad in Northeastern Iran)

This study evaluates the situation of climate change in the metropolis of Mashhad. The data required for this study were obtained from the available documents, especially the meteorological station of Mashhad, and the research method was descriptive and analytical. The findings of this study indicate that showed significant changes in the average of all three temperatures in Mashhad station. So we can assume the intensification of temperature rise is due to the formation of the heat island phenomenon in Mashhad. Heat penalties not only affect energy consumption and increase emissions but also have other abnormal consequences. The study of the relationship between temperature changes and rainfall in the city of Mashhad with economic, environmental, and other indicators shows that almost all the indicators have decreased sharply with decreasing rainfall and increasing temperature. Specifically, the amount of investment in the tourism sector has decreased by almost 30%. Meanwhile, about 50% of the income and employment of this city is provided by the tourism industry. In particular, a comparison of the two climatic elements of temperature and precipitation shows that the region has been ruled by drought since 1993, which is still ongoing. Given these changes, four key risks can be prioritized for this city: Severe evaporation in the area; Occurrence of severe floods; Increased energy demand in hot seasons; and Fundamental change in the efficiency of energy production and consumption equipment. Increased investment in protection infrastructure (especially in the case of floods, recently intensified due to flash floods); transportation (the extreme sub- urbanism of the people due to the increase of pollutants in the built-up areas); health and medical facilities and equipment and the provision of green space, etc., are among the other consequences attributed to the climate change that has occurred in this city.