Many climate change impact studies have been conducted using a top-down approach. First, outputs from global circulation models (GCMs) are considered which are downscaled in a second step to the river basin scale using either a statistical/empirical or a dynamic approach. The local climatic signal that is obtained is then used as input into a hydrological model to assess the direct consequences in the basin. Problems related to this approach include: a high degree of uncertainty associated with GCM outputs and an increase in uncertainty due to the downscaling approach. An inverse approach is proposed in this article to improve the understanding of the processes leading to hydrological hazards including both flood and drought events. The approach analyses of existing guidelines and management practices in a river basin with respect to critical hydrological exposures that may lead to failure of the water resources system or parts thereof.