5 Ways Hydro-Politics Will Shape the Rest of the 21st Century
Consider this: we need water to survive. Needless to say, water is crucial in the human development. Not all regions however, have an equal access to it.. In fact as years go by, in some areas there will be no water for drinking.
Even beyond drinking, water is crucial for the economy, environment, agriculture and so much more. The scarcity of water, leading to Water Politics or Hydro-Politics, grows for many regions and their consequences can be lethal.
While waterways commonly help countries, few nations will in general offer access to streams or lakes – the Nile goes through about twelve nations alone.
What if there was no access to water?
Experts agree: if there was no access to the water, something akin to chaos and disorder ensue.. That’s why, as a global obstacle, over the next few decades could be keeping up this ultra-delicate balance of water. In the 21st Century, freshwater supplies are dying, climate change is raising ocean levels, and modifying borders and worldwide hyper-patriotism is trying diplomatic relations.
Water demand is expected to go up 55% somewhere in the range of 2000 and 2050. In the coming century, as a worldwide asset, it’s been portrayed as “the following oil.” Because its supply is dwindling and demand is increasing. And only the strongest nations will survive.
So what is the plan? What can we do to prevent fighting over H2O?
World harmony depends on hydro-politics issues
Water peace goes back centuries. Even in ancient times, there were countless battles over clean and usable water. In fact, territories with sources of water, especially life supporting ones, often gave extreme value to the area.. But today it’s very different. And the access to sea remains paramount.
In the Middle East, the Jordan River is the essential water hotspot for some, locales, including Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, areas of long-standing political strains.
Egypt and Ethiopia have competed over the advancement of water from the River Nile for a considerable length of time: the famous stream starts in Ethiopia yet finishes in Egypt.
As per the Pacific Institute, a California-based water asset data, there have been many water-related problems worldwide from 2000BC to the present day.
So how would we ensure everybody gets enough water? And also keep world peace in the 21st Century?
Well the policy, for the last few thousand years, has been conflict over water, through Hydro-politics and “water wars.” Instead, the appropriate response may lie in how countries with more food and water trade those supplies to different countries.
Divvying up water supplies
While there have been many “water-related” problems throughout the centuries, there haven’t been many great solutions per se. Providing water over a nations border maybe seemed far fetched in older times.
There are three main issues with regards to water in the 21st Century, says Aaron Wolf.
The primary issue is the most obvious: water shortage. A lack of protected, reliable water kills the same number of individuals worldwide as intestinal sickness and HIV/Aids.
The second issue would be the political implications of that shortage.
The third fundamental issue – and maybe the most under-reported according to specialists – is that trans-boundary flow of water that is: water moving between nations. Conflict here results in major efforts to secure territory and access to usable water.
Building hydro-diplomacy, the opposite of hydro-politics?
Despite headlines on Hydro-Politics and Water Wars, many nations still rely on charity and foundations to help deal with a water crisis. A major step in the right direction would be addressing the water needs of the many.
While water presents an apparent conflict, it could likewise accelerate worldwide collaboration
Populace explosions, particularly in Africa and Asia, strain resources. The rising global temperatures lead to rivers drying up. This only spurs the fire of Water Wars..
An answer? Maybe a few solutions
There are very few solutions as individuals to effect this issue on a bigger scale. That being said, here are a few places where improvements in developing countries can be implemented and where we all can help.
Water is needed heavily in agriculture. So efficient means of farming plants and animals (watering, feeding and processing) as well as their water cleaning and delivery can be micro managed to save water.
That water is transferred into the products we eat or drink. That is known as “virtual water,” and it’s gonna be a massive role in the 21st century.
If you include virtual water in a picture, farmers are controlling much of the water in the chain supply. In Europe, 40% of this “virtual water” comes from outside.
While it’s not our place to talk about borders and control over rivers, we at WeeklyReviewer firmly believe real solutions come from the heart of the matter.
