It's been a really bad week for the climate. Each day brought depressing news as scientists meeting in Copenhagen told us global warming is taking place more rapidly than expected: the seas are rising faster than predicted and the polar ice caps are melting quicker than you can say dodo. Oh, and the Amazon rain forest is doomed unless urgent action is taken.
Water conflicts can arise in water stressed areas among local communities and between countries because sharing a very limited and essential resource is extremely difficult. The lack of adequate legal instruments exacerbates already difficult conditions.
The causes of water scarcity are varied. Some are natural and others are as a result of human activity, that is a given. Many of the causes are inter-related and are not easily distinguished but let me say that there are, to this day, people (and some bought scientists) who still refuse to make the connection between global warming (or climate change) and droughts. When will these denialists wake up and smell the dry air?
Denialism arises from personal ideologies (see GOP), and/or desire for profit (and greed). Some industry groups seek to protect markets from damaging facts and information (hence the number of paid hacks who monitor the web to counter attack and spread misinformation), and of course some political groups who also work to advance their agendas.
A reminder from WHO:
A lack of water to meet daily needs is a reality for many people around the world and has serious health consequences. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people. The situation is getting worse due to climate change, population growth, urbanization and increased domestic and industrial water use.
Population growth, climate change sparking water crisis:
Another United Nations report compiled by 24 agencies warned that rapid population growth, climate change, wasteful irrigation practices, and chronic water waste are placing the world's water supplies in jeopardy. The third "World Water Development Report" painted an alarming picture of the condition of the planet's freshwater as the population - 6 billion in 2000 - is expected to leap to 9 billion by mid-century. Source
Water scarcity clouds California farming's future:
FRESNO - California almond farmer Marvin Meyers has moved into banking -- water banking that is. In the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the world's most productive agricultural region, Meyers bought land to collect water in wet years and recharge a shallow aquifer. Source
Drop in central Oregon groundwater puzzles scientists:
BEND, Ore. — A mysterious drop in groundwater levels in the triangle between Redmond, Prineville and Powell Butte is under investigation by state and federal scientists. One mile south of Redmond, groundwater levels have declined nearly 20 feet in the last 15 years. Source
Planning for future must consider climate change:
Washington, D.C. - The National Research Council in Washington said that the world needs to rethink many basic assumptions in the light of growing climate change, which is causing sea-level rises, altered weather patterns, and declines in freshwater availability and quality. Source
Australian report suggests water options running out:
An environmental impact statement on a proposed weir at Wellington, on the lower Murray River in the state of South Australia, said that building the $110 million project may be the only way to secure freshwater as Australia's long drought continues. Source
Water pipe sparks Ethiopian conflict:
Some 70,000 people have fled their homes along the Kenyan border in southern Ethiopia since violence broke out between the Borana and Gherri people over the construction of a new borehole. Source
California panel urges immediate action to protect against rising sea levels:
California's Inter agency Climate Action Team issued a report on impacts of and adaptation to climate change, outlining what the state's residents must do to deal with floods, erosion, and other effects expected from rising sea levels. Source
Present U.S. water usage unsustainable:
In an interview with Circle of Blue, the Pacific Institute’s Dr. Peter Gleick discusses water resource challenges the U.S. faces in the near future. A must read. Source
It's not all bad news as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities asks members to ban bottled water:
The federation board of directors passed the anti-bottle resolution at a meeting in Victoria on Saturday. The move carries no legal weight and aims simply to encourage municipalities to speak out against bottled water and avoid distributing it when possible. Source
And more good news: Professor Gatze Lettinga from The Netherlands has been awarded this year's Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for his environmentally sustainable solution for the treatment of used water using anaerobic technology. His revolutionary treatment concept, which stood out among 39 international nominations, enables industrial used water to be purified cost-effectively and produces renewable energy, fertilizers and soil conditioners. Source
A closing message from FAO:
What is water scarcity? Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, intersectoral competition, interregional and international conflicts, all contributes to water scarcity. Scarcity often has its roots in water shortage, and it is in the arid and semiarid regions affected by droughts and wide climate variability, combined with population growth and economic development, that the problems of water scarcity are most acute.
Today is the opening day for the World Water Forum. It is the main water-related event in the world, aimed at putting water firmly on the international agenda. A stepping stone towards global collaboration on water problems, the Forum offers the water community and policy-and-decision-makers from all over the world the unique opportunity to come together to create links, debate and attempts to find solutions to achieve water security. World Water Forum Website