Planetary Resources Water

“Water is about quantity, quality, space and time. Whether you have a big problem or not depends entirely on where you live.” Source: Ian Cluckie Professor of Hydrology and Water Management, University of Bristol

Key Questions Nearly one billion in habitants do not have access to safe drinking water: why is this essential resource unequally distributed? By what means do humans mobilize their water resources and transform space? How can water be developed sustainably given different levels in development?

Unit Preview Water Supply Water Footprint Water Security Water Scarcity Water Conflicts Case Studies: – Yangtze River, China – Spain – Colorado River, USA – South-North water transfer, China – Middle East Water Management & Governance

Water Supply

Global Water Footprint

Daily Domestic Water use per capita CountryLiters per capita per day 1.Canada United States Australia Korea Italy Japan Spain Portugal Mexico Turkey France Czech Republic Germany Poland India United Kingdom Denmark China95

Water Footprint Water Footprint Website Before consulting the website, how many liters of water do you think are needed to make the following: 1 liter beer? 1 liter milk? 1 kg of cotton? 1 kg of cane sugar? 1 kg of wheat bread?

The relation between consumption and water use "The interest in the water footprint is rooted in the recognition that human impacts on freshwater systems can ultimately be linked to human consumption, and that issues like water shortages and pollution can be better understood and addressed by considering production and supply chains as a whole. Water problems are often closely tied to the structure of the global economy. Many countries have significantly externalized their water footprint, importing water-intensive goods from elsewhere. This puts pressure on the water resources in the exporting regions, where too often mechanisms for wise water governance and conservation are lacking. Not only governments, but also consumers, businesses and civil society communities can play a role in achieving a better management of water resources." Going back to the website, compare China, Japan and the U.S. for their externalized water footprint…

Water Security: a definition “T he capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water- related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability.”

WATER SECURITY Core elements necessary to achieving and maintaining water security: Protection of livelihoods, human rights, and cultural and recreational values; Preservation and protection of ecosystems in water allocation and management systems in order to maintain their ability to deliver and sustain the functioning of essential ecosystem services; Water supplies for socio-economic development and activities (such as energy, transport, industry, tourism); Collection and treatment of used water to protect human life and the environment from pollution; Collaborative approaches to transboundary water resources management within and between countries to promote freshwater sustainability and cooperation; The ability to cope with uncertainties and risks of water-related hazards, such as floods, droughts and pollution, among others; Good governance and accountability, and the due consideration of the interests of all stakeholders through appropriate and effective legal regimes; transparent, participatory and accountable institutions; properly planned, operated and maintained infrastructure; and capacity development.

The risks of water insecurity What are the potential implications of an increasingly ‘water insecure’ world? Water supply problems Increasing water shortages may be more important than energy shortages- because there is no alternative! Water conflicts Where demand exceeds supply and no effective management operates, then there will be conflicts between the various players involved Water geopolitics The conflicts between nation states, despite the international agreement called the Helsinki Rules designed to create more equitable use of water extending across boundaries Water transfers Of this precious resource by either diverting the actual river, or using canals. Long carried out at a small scale but increasingly over larger distances, and even transboundary

Synopticity-Water-Energy Energy and Water: Solving Both Crises Together: Water and energy are the two most fundamental ingredients of modern civilization We consume massive quantities of water to generate energy, and we consume massive quantities of energy to deliver clean water Peak Oil is topical. Peak Water or ‘Blue Gold’ is less thought about. There are tensions between the two: An issue in energy rich states,which are semi arid/arid: to sell cheap oil or keep to power desalinisation plants Water is needed to generate energy. Energy is needed to deliver water. Both resources are limiting the other—and both may be running short. Is there a way out? water restrictions are hampering solutions for generating more energy energy problems, particularly rising prices, are curtailing efforts to supply more clean water.

A Delicate Balance WaterFoodEnergy Energy is needed to clean and transport water Water is needed to generate energy Water is needed to grow food Food transports (virtual) water Energy is needed to produce food Food can be used to produce energy

NPR : Water the Epic Struggle Water Scarcity

Drought Somali exodus linked to drought: – In 2011 alone, some 184,000 Somalis fled to neighboring countries, with water and food insecurity linked to drought in the Horn of Africa being one of the major driving factors VIDEO: Great Chinese Drought continuing – What are some of the causes and consequences of the drought problems in Northern China mentioned in the report? Source: UNHCR, 2011