Closed basin regions constitute places where people are relying on “non-renewable aquifers” and may have basic access to water, but not a surplus of it to support long-term economic and environmental needs. North Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, the Southwest United States, and Australia are all example locations.
Developing nations, however, may expect to feel the worst of this shift, as they are forced to restructure their economic and social practices. “Some developing nations may be looking forward to more economic development and industries that require more water, and this access may be limited in the future,” Gary Gardner, a senior Worldwatch researcher, told MediaGlobal.
Gardner mentioned certain African nations, such as Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, which tend to import a large portion of grain, noting that that trend “may be in line with a globalisation strategy where one does not try to be self-sufficient, but relies on the global market to meet your needs.” He noted that the approach leaves countries “fairly vulnerable.”
Gardner, who called these findings “sobering,” says price regulation and conservation will be key in confronting this trend. He recommended staying away from crops that are more “water thirsty,” like cotton, and a shift toward renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, which are generally 25 times less water intensive than coal and nuclear energy.
“There are many things we could do to be much more aware of how we are managing water, so that we do not waste it,” he said. “Global warming is really going to shuffle the deck in this situation… We have to be prepared to handle that.”
Article published courtesy of MediaGlobal
