It is fairly common knowledge that the world is changing. The world
has been changing since the beginning of time, and the world will
continue to change until the end of time. Human beings have not always
been able to track or predict these changes, but with always-advancing
technology and increased global communications, it is becoming easier
and easier to figure out exactly what is happening to our planet.
Climate
change has drastically increased the Earth’s temperatures, disrupted
rainfall patterns, and lowered sea levels. Couple that with the fact
that Earth’s population is constantly increasing, which increases the
demand for clean/fresh water, it becomes very obvious that the earth is
approaching a water crisis.
A study done by World Resources
Institute shows that about one-fifth of all the world’s countries will
face water shortages by the year 2040. The Middle East stood out as the
most susceptible area. “The region, already arguably the least
water-secure in the world, draws heavily upon groundwater and
desalinated seawater, and faces exceptional water-related challenges for
the foreseeable future,” says the report.
The United States,
China, India, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Namibia,
South Africa, Botswana, Peru, Chile, and several North African
countries are also at high risk for water shortages by 2040. The biggest
fear is that the result of increased water scarcity could be massive
conflict, especially in already crisis-prone regions, like the Middle
East and Africa.
It is becoming increasingly important to come up
with unique solutions of how to combat this upcoming issue, and while
this news itself isn’t the most positive news, what is positive is that
we have more time now to come up with strategies.
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