|
Watch part two
The world is running out of water. Around 4000 children die every day due to water shortages - and it is going to get worse. That is the warning from the World Water Forum being held in Istanbul this week.
Experts have warned that increases in population and climate change, demands for more food, and increased domestic and industrial water use are depleting the planet's freshwater supply at an unsustainable rate.
The UN released an alarming report that demonstrated a strong link exists between poverty and water resources.
This trend is causing serious health consequences around the world. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people.
Unless these problems are addressed, it will lead to political and social insecurity in coming decades. Water scarcity has the potential to destabilise the world economically, environmentally and militarily.
According to a UN report, The Middle East is of particular concern as Israel and its neighbours already struggle with dwindling water supplies.
What are the real causes behind the growing scarcity of water? What solutions, if any, could be effective in addressing the shortage?
Lauren Taylor is joined by Ger Bergkamp, the director general of the World Water Council, Melanie Nakagawa, the director of the Natural Resource Defence Council's "Global Safe Water Project" and Mark Zeitoun, a senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia's School of International Development.
This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
|