World Needs 'Greener' Water Solutions as Demand Rises
Governments need to rely more on 'green' water management to keep the planet healthy and meet the needs of the fast-growing global population. That was the central message of a study presented at the 2018 World Water Forum in Brazil last week.
Water demand increases by about 1 percent per year, even as climate change, pollution, and erosion threaten its quality and availability. But until now, most countries have relied on traditional, man-made water management systems such as reservoirs, irrigation canals, and water treatment plants. The study considered the many benefits of natural solutions – like wetlands, urban gardens, and sustainable farming practices – and found that very little money has been invested in these greener water management options.
Stefan Uhlenbrook, coordinator of UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Program, notes that "green solutions can meet several water management needs at the same time: improving water management, while also reducing floods or droughts, and improving access to water." He also says that green solutions help to store carbon, increase biodiversity, and create jobs in rural environments.
Some places are starting to adopt natural water management systems. Many communities are building artificial wetlands to fight flooding, while others have adopted more sustainable soil and water management practices that boost harvests and fight drought.
Uhlenbrook says these are important steps. "We have to grow some 50 percent more food in the next 30-40 years." Experts say greener water management can help to increase agricultural production by 20 percent, which may prove key in feeding a global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050.
In a 2010 UNESCO report, researchers argued that encouraging a shift away from meat-based diets will be an important factor in future environmental policies, as they found that raising animals for food requires far more water than growing crops.
