Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity,but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn whatis happening to the world into our own personal sufferingand thus to discover what each of us can do about it.

Laudato si, 30.

Water: theWater: thenew goldnew gold

Access to safe, drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights.’

Laudato si, 30.

Unusual in being italicised. Pope Francis also alerts us to the danger of multinational business taking control of water.

Laudato siLaudato si, , Chapter 1 (II), Chapter 1 (II),

27-3127-31

Water is the new gold:Water is the new gold:

Global consumption is doubling every 25 yearsGlobal consumption is doubling every 25 years

EveryEvery year 80 million extra peopleyear 80 million extra people

need water – as supply shrinksneed water – as supply shrinks By 2050By 2050:: – – India will have 563 million India will have 563 million moremore people people – – China will have 187 million China will have 187 million moremore people people – – Pakistan will have 200 million Pakistan will have 200 million moremore people (one people (one

of the world’s most arid countries, with 141 of the world’s most arid countries, with 141 million today)million today)

– – Egypt, Iran, Mexico: 50% population increase in Egypt, Iran, Mexico: 50% population increase in eacheach

A water-challenged worldA water-challenged world 400 of China’s 600 cities 400 of China’s 600 cities

are in severe drought.are in severe drought. The same is true of 22 The same is true of 22

countries in Africa.countries in Africa. In Mexico City and In Mexico City and

Arizona there is no water Arizona there is no water left.left.

If things go on as they are, If things go on as they are, by 2025 two-thirds of the by 2025 two-thirds of the world will have little world will have little water. water.

Four themes …Four themes …

1. Melting glaciers 1. Melting glaciers 2. Rivers running dry 2. Rivers running dry 3. Falling water tables 3. Falling water tables 4. Facing up to water 4. Facing up to water

scarcity scarcity

The melting of glaciers has implications notjust for tourism. I t means the loss of"reservoirs in the sky" for summer irrigation,used since the beginnings of irrigation, and forsupply of drinking water to cities.

All the region’s major All the region’s major rivers originate in the rivers originate in the

HimalayasHimalayas IndusIndus GangesGanges MekongMekong Yangtze Yangtze Yellow riverYellow river

Melting in this area will Melting in this area will alter the hydrology of alter the hydrology of

several Asian countriesseveral Asian countries PakistanPakistan IndiaIndia ChinaChina BangladeshBangladesh ThailandThailand Viet NamViet Nam Nepal Nepal Less snow melt during the summer dry season to feed Less snow melt during the summer dry season to feed

rivers could worsen the hydrological poverty already rivers could worsen the hydrological poverty already affecting so many in the region affecting so many in the region

This links water to climate change: and emphasises the urgency of cutting carbon emissions

2. Rivers running dry2. Rivers running dry

30 30 million million peoplepeople

ColoradoColorado UtahUtah WyomingWyoming New New

MexicoMexico ArizonaArizona NevadaNevada California California

The Aral Sea

Coastal towns are now as much as 50km inland

A thriving fishery has been destroyed

China’s Yellow RiverChina’s Yellow River

One example among many: the One example among many: the

Yellow RiverYellow River The Yellow River ran dry for the first time ever in The Yellow River ran dry for the first time ever in

1972. WHY?1972. WHY? Climate change in part …Climate change in part … … … but largely because of upstream diversions for but largely because of upstream diversions for

industryindustry, , citiescities and and irrigationirrigation … … e.g. e.g. HohhotHohhot, Lower Mongolia’s capital; and , Lower Mongolia’s capital; and

Taiyuan, the capital of Shanzi province, which has Taiyuan, the capital of Shanzi province, which has 4 million people and where water is rationed … 4 million people and where water is rationed …

Shandong producesShandong producesone-fifth one-fifth of China’s of China’s corn … corn … and one-seventhand one-seventhof its wheatof its wheat

It is more important to China than Iowa and Kansas together are to the US

Half of Shandong’s irrigation water Half of Shandong’s irrigation water comes from the Yellow River …comes from the Yellow River …

… … the other half from an aquifer that is the other half from an aquifer that is shrinking by 1.5m a year.shrinking by 1.5m a year.

One day the Yellow River may never One day the Yellow River may never reach Shandong.reach Shandong.

NO WONDER THERE ARE SLEEPLESS NO WONDER THERE ARE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IN THE CORRIDORS OF CHINESE NIGHTS IN THE CORRIDORS OF CHINESE POWER … POWER …

The Nile

whose water must be shared not just between provinces, but countries

It hardly ever rains in Egypt: nearly all its It hardly ever rains in Egypt: nearly all its water comes from the Nile water comes from the Nile

The NileThe Nile

Egypt has to import 40% of its grain Egypt has to import 40% of its grain todaytoday

Tomorrow?Tomorrow? Its population will double from 68 to Its population will double from 68 to

114 million by 2050114 million by 2050

SudanSudan

Sudan’s water needs will also double Sudan’s water needs will also double to 64 million by 2050.to 64 million by 2050.

At present Ethiopia only uses a tiny At present Ethiopia only uses a tiny fraction of the Nile’s water. This will fraction of the Nile’s water. This will change. change.

All three countries need to All three countries need to stabilise their populations or stabilise their populations or they will be trapped in they will be trapped in hydrological povertyhydrological poverty..

The River Ganges

If India were to use

all the water it

wanted, the river

might not even

reach Bangladesh

during its dry

season

There is, fortunately, a treaty governing flow

3. Falling water tables3. Falling water tables

The 3 billion people to be added to The 3 billion people to be added to world population by 2050 will be born world population by 2050 will be born in countries already facing water in countries already facing water scarcity.scarcity.

40% of world food supply comes from 40% of world food supply comes from irrigated landirrigated land (diesel and electric (diesel and electric pumps).pumps).

Water scarcity in the future will mean Water scarcity in the future will mean food scarcity. food scarcity.

Depleted aquifersDepleted aquifers

OverpumpingOverpumping takes water faster takes water faster from the aquifer than it can be from the aquifer than it can be replaced by precipitation. replaced by precipitation.

OverpumpingOverpumping is now widespread, is now widespread, especially in China, India and the especially in China, India and the United States.United States.

These three countries account for These three countries account for nearly half the world’s grain harvest. nearly half the world’s grain harvest.

Bottled waterBottled water

In 2002 world In 2002 world sales of bottled sales of bottled water totalled water totalled $35 billion …$35 billion …

… … and only one and only one in ten of these in ten of these plastic bottles plastic bottles gets recycled.gets recycled.

Closer to home …Closer to home …

The water in half of all Group The water in half of all Group Schemes is contaminated. Schemes is contaminated.

Water Framework Directive:Water Framework Directive: good water status to be returned to good water status to be returned to

all surface waters and groundwaters all surface waters and groundwaters by 2015. by 2015.

Irrigation stanchionswatering asparagusin an arid climate

The Southern Great PlainsThe Southern Great Plains

Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas

The Ogallala AquiferThe Ogallala Aquifer

… A fossil aquifer with little recharge

The irrigated area shrinks as theOgallala is depleted

Overall grain production is expectedTo drop by 17%

4. Facing up to water 4. Facing up to water scarcityscarcity

Worldwide the annual overpumping Worldwide the annual overpumping of aquifers uses up 160 billion mof aquifers uses up 160 billion m33 of of water: water:

… … the equivalent of the equivalent of 160 million tons 160 million tons of grainof grain

= half the entire U.S. grain harvest= half the entire U.S. grain harvest

This would feed This would feed 480 million people480 million people (average world grain consumption is just (average world grain consumption is just over 300 kg per person per year)over 300 kg per person per year)

In other words: 480 million of the world’s In other words: 480 million of the world’s 6.7 billion people are being fed with 6.7 billion people are being fed with grain grain produced with the unsustainable use of produced with the unsustainable use of waterwater

… … with water that belongs to our childrenwith water that belongs to our children

The economics of water: rising affluence generates additional The economics of water: rising affluence generates additional demand for water. Why?demand for water. Why?

Because a diet rich in livestock products Because a diet rich in livestock products requires four times as much grain per person requires four times as much grain per person as a rice-based diet in a country like India. as a rice-based diet in a country like India.

This means four times as much water is This means four times as much water is needed.needed.

The world’s fastest-growing The world’s fastest-growing grain import marketgrain import market

North Africa and the North Africa and the Middle East Middle East

including Morocco, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, EgyptEgypt and countries and countries eastward through Iran. eastward through Iran.

Virtually all these Virtually all these countries are countries are

simultaneously simultaneously experiencing water experiencing water shortage and rapid shortage and rapid population growthpopulation growth

A downward spiral …A downward spiral … Ever-growing demand for water for Ever-growing demand for water for

expanding cities and growing industry expanding cities and growing industry satisfied satisfied by diverting water from irrigationby diverting water from irrigation..

The loss in food production capacity is The loss in food production capacity is then then offset by importing grain from abroadoffset by importing grain from abroad (because every ton of grain imported is = (because every ton of grain imported is = 1,000 tons of water saved1,000 tons of water saved).).

The water needed to produce the grain and other foodstuffs imported into North Africa and the Middle East in 2000 was roughly equal to the annual flow of the River Nile …

i.e. another Nile i.e. another Nile flowing into the flowing into the

region in the form region in the form of imported grainof imported grain

South-east Australia 2008: after 6 years of drought, sheepwander the plains looking for something to eat …

What must be doneWhat must be done Halt overpumping and stabilise water tablesHalt overpumping and stabilise water tables

It cannot be done all at once, in one stepIt cannot be done all at once, in one step

… … because the world grain harvest would fall by 160 million because the world grain harvest would fall by 160 million tons (8%) and grain prices would go through the rooftons (8%) and grain prices would go through the roof

BUT THE LONGER COUNTRIES DELAY IN FACING THE ISSUE, BUT THE LONGER COUNTRIES DELAY IN FACING THE ISSUE, THE WIDER THE WATER DEFICIT BECOMES AND THE THE WIDER THE WATER DEFICIT BECOMES AND THE GREATER THE EVENTUAL ADJUSTMENT WILL BE.GREATER THE EVENTUAL ADJUSTMENT WILL BE.

Governments in water-short Governments in water-short countries must act to countries must act to

stabilise population and raise stabilise population and raise water productivity or their water productivity or their water shortages will soon water shortages will soon become food shortagesbecome food shortages

There is the frightening possibility that There is the frightening possibility that the rising grain import needs of water-the rising grain import needs of water-short countries will overwhelm the short countries will overwhelm the export capacity of grain-surplus export capacity of grain-surplus countries.countries.

This would destabilise world grain This would destabilise world grain markets.markets.

Falling water tables in China could Falling water tables in China could soon mean rising food prices for the soon mean rising food prices for the entire world. entire world.

When the rivers run When the rivers run dry. What happens dry. What happens

when our water runs when our water runs outout

by Fred Pearceby Fred Pearce

Eden Project Books, 2006Eden Project Books, 2006

Buy this book.

Read it.

Open your eyes.

Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity,Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity,but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn whatbut rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn whatis happening to the world into our own personal sufferingis happening to the world into our own personal sufferingand thus to discover what each of us can do about it.and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.

Laudato siLaudato si, 30 , 30