Water shortages: political upheaval and economic stagnation loom, UN report warns

Updated - Wednesday 06 May 2009

Demand for water is increasing due to population growth and mobility, rising living standards, changes in food consumption, and increased energy production, especially biofuels. These are among the conclusions of the 3rd United Nations World Water Development Report [1], released in March 2009, together with a companion case study volume [2] . Published every three years, the report offers a comprehensive assessment of the planet’s freshwater resources. The latest edition emphasizes the role of water in development and economic growth.

So far water reforms have yet to have any noticeable effect, the report says, because action is too often confined to the water sector alone while the key decisions about water are taken outside the water sector. For decisions to be effective, they need to involve decision makers from all sectors, including agriculture, energy, trade and finance, as they all have a decisive impact on water management. The report also emphasizes the importance of partnerships between governments the private sector and civil society.

Access to water, climate change, infrastructure investments, corruption and water management, are among the issues covered in the report.

[1] World Water Assessment Programme and UN-Water (2009). The United Nations World Water Development Report 3 : water in a changing world. Paris, France, UNESCO and London, UK Earthscan. Download here.

[2] World Water Assessment Programme (2009). The United Nations World Water Development Report 3 : case study volume : facing the challenges. Paris, France, UNESCO and London, UK Earthscan. Download here.

Related news: Population growth: global water crisis ‘to strike by 2030′, Source Weekly, 02 Apr 2009

Source: UNESCO, 12 Mar 2009