India is projected to be the most severely affected country by water scarcity, according to a flagship report by the United Nations. The UN report titled ‘United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: partnerships and cooperation for water’, which was released ahead of the UN 2023 Water Conference, highlighted that the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050. Around 80% of the people living under water stress live in Asia; particularly, northeast China, India, and Pakistan.
The report emphasized the urgent need to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiraling out of control. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that water is our common future and it is essential to act together to share it equitably and manage it sustainably. The report found that globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation.
Urban Population and Water Stress
The UN report projects that the global urban population facing water scarcity will increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050. The report points out that India is projected to be the most severely affected country by water scarcity.
Risks and Challenges
The report cites reduced availability and increased demand for water as the reasons for rising scarcity, from urban and industrial growth to agriculture, which alone consumes 70% of the world’s supply. The uncertainties surrounding the current situation are increasing, and if the issue is not addressed, there could be a global crisis.
UNESCO’s Concerns
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed her concern over the situation, saying that there is an urgent need to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiraling out of control. Azoulay emphasized the importance of acting together to share water equitably and manage it sustainably.
UN Secretary General’s Message
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in the report, said that water is the lifeblood of humanity, and it is vital for survival itself. He also voiced concern that humanity is blindly traveling a dangerous path with vampiric overconsumption and overdevelopment, unsustainable water use, pollution, and unchecked global warming draining humanity’s lifeblood, drop by drop. He called for the smart management and conservation of the world’s water resources, bringing together governments, businesses, scientists, civil society, and communities, including indigenous communities, to design and deliver concrete solutions.
Partnerships and Cooperation
The report emphasized that as water is a cross-cutting issue, partnerships and cooperation are key to integrated approaches to water management spanning across key sectors. The water-energy-food nexus is also critical in a transboundary context. One such partnership addressing this issue is the transboundary water cooperation arrangement established by the Mahakali Treaty (Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project) between India and Nepal, which aims to achieve water and energy security for both parties. Although the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is long delayed, several beneficial impacts have been highlighted in terms of irrigation and flood control, and lessening energy shortages.
Knowledge Co-Creation
Partnerships that focus on knowledge co-creation instead of knowledge transfer aim to embrace the diversity of expertise and experience within a knowledge system. This is particularly relevant in the context of water management. The report noted that in many parts of the world, water resources management practices incorporate traditional elements, ranging from local expert knowledge on spring water availability and flood frequency to highly sophisticated systems such as ancient water sowing and harvesting (e.g. the Qanat system in Iran). Incorporating traditional knowledge in water management strategies can lead to better outcomes for both people and the environment.
For example, in arid regions, traditional knowledge can help identify the most efficient ways to capture and store water, such as building underground cisterns or using terracing to slow runoff and increase infiltration. In addition, traditional knowledge can be used to identify the most suitable crops for local conditions, and to determine when and how to irrigate them.
Incorporating traditional knowledge in water management can also help to ensure the equitable distribution of resources. In many traditional societies, water is managed communally, with rules and norms in place to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient water for their needs. This can be contrasted with the modern approach, where water is often treated as a commodity and allocated according to market forces, which can lead to inequitable outcomes.
(Inputs from PTI)
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