WATER AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY

Luis Veiga da CunhaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa

Side event on“The influence of recent technological advances in spanish and global water policy”

2015 UN-Water International Zaragoza Conference15-17 January 2015

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Water Scarcity (2005)

Source: WBCSD (2005)

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Index of World Population and GDP

4Source: Gulbenkian Think Tank (2014)

Distribution of Population Change(2010 to 2050)

Source: IFPRI (2010)

Distribution of GDP Change(2010 to 2050)

Source: IFPRI (2010)

Evolution of the Urban andRural Population

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Source: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2012)

Water Withdrawal by Sector and by Region (2005)

Source: FAO Aquastat (2011)8

Annual Precipitation Change (%) for 2090-2099. Scenario A1B

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Source: IPCC AR4 (2012)

Annual Runoff Change (%) for 2090-2099. Scenario A1B

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Source: IPCC AR4 (2007)

Global Changesin Human Activities

Source: W. Steffen et al. (2011)

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Global Changes in the Earth System

Source: W. Steffen et al. (2011)

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Net Virtual Water Import

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Source: Hoekstra and Mekonnem (2012)

Water GovernanceWater related Sectors, Drivers and Actions

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Water GovernanceWater related Sectors, Drivers and Actions

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Water GovernanceWater related Sectors, Drivers and Actions

Closing quotations• “Nature is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a

responsible stewardship over it. Yet so often we are driven bygreed and by arrogance of dominion, possession, manipulationand exploitation; we do not perserve nature or consider it a gratious gift which we must care for and set at the service of ourbrothers and sisters, including the future generations”.

• “Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression orassassination, but also by unfair economic structures thatcreates huge inequalities”.

• “The monopolising of lands, deforestation, the appropriation ofwater, inadequate agro-toxics, are some of the evils that tear man from the land of his birth. Climate Change, the loss ofbiodiversity and deforestation are already showing theirdevastating effects in the great cataclisms we wittness”.

Pope Francis, 2013-201417

Closing Quotations

“I think god in creating Man,

somewhat overestimated his ability”.

Oscar Wilde

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Earth View from Space

19Source: Apollo 17 Image of Earth from space (1972)

Volume of Water on Earth

Source: USGS (2014)

Thank You!

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