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MaximsNewsWATER
Millions of people do not have access to safe drinking water. Millions more face growing water stress as over-exploitation, pollution and climate change threaten the world’s freshwater supply. With 40 per cent of the world’s population sustained by rivers and lakes bordering two or more countries, World Water Day 2009 is calling for improved cooperation to satisfy everyone’s water needs. UN Photo
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EARTH DAY 2009 HAS ARRIVED - BUT WHERE IS THE FOCUS ON GLOBAL WATER ISSUES? by KATHY SHANDLING: 22/04/2009 (MaximsNews Network) |
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UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 22 April
2009 -- Today is Earth Day.
Numerous media outlets are recognizing the day (officially established
39 years ago) with articles focused on the accepted links between global
warming, green initiatives, and energy conservation.
Additionally, the concept of a green initiatives and global warming continues to appear on the Obama administration’s agenda as part of their recent dialogues with government leaders in Europe and Latin America.
And these dialogues have included a review of the issues of carbon foot-printing, greenhouse gases, and the skyrocketing global energy needs that exist in both developed and developing countries
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And
today, on Earth Day, President Obama stressed the importance of developing
clean energy options. However, from the perspective of a water policy practitioner, what is noticeably absent is significant media coverage or Earth Day-related events focused on water. There appears to be very little Earth Day events scheduled around the world that address the critical ongoing global challenge of freshwater shortages, water efficiency, water re-use initiatives, and water conservation efforts. |
Amy Hart is the Director of WATER FIRST: Reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) a film that won 2nd prize at the last World Water Forum. See: MaximsNewsNetwork YouTube.
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There appears to be very little coverage or educational information being made available to the public about the impact of global warming on water resources and subsequent availability of sustainable sources of water.
The average citizen of the world continues to be exposed to articles on the need to reduce global society’s carbon footprint. And corporations, industries and residential communities alike are clamoring to implement programs and technologies to diminish their respective carbon footprint.
What receives very little
attention – the need to also reduce global society’s water footprint,
particularly in the wake of clear-cut evidence detailing a slow growing
evolution of diminished traditional water resources directly as a result of
global warming.
And the global water footprint is not just about individual water usage. After all, only 10 percent of the world’s freshwater resources are being consumed by individual users for daily functions.
It
is important for the public to better understand that 20-28 percent use of the
world’s freshwater resources is linked to corporations/industry while 62-70
percent of freshwater use is linked to agriculture.
It is equally important for the public to better understand the close link between water and energy. There is a tremendous need for water to create energy and there is a tremendous need for energy to treat and transport water.
It is suggested that at least
20 percent of the energy volume
capacity in the state of California (USA) is being used by the water sector.
And California’s water resources continue to be dramatically reduced or at
least challenged as a result
of diminished available forms of traditional water sources due to global warming,
regional population growth, and increased industrial demand including by those
companies operating
within the energy sector.
Moving forward, Earth Day needs to better embrace the complete picture for achieving a global green economy. Yes, it is important to promote the development and use of sustainable and affordable renewable forms of energy as part of the green vision.
But it is equally as important to promote the development and implementation of initiatives that support grey water re-use, water conservation, and water efficiency in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a more comprehensive global green economy.
Corporate industry and the agriculture sector need to better
embrace wastewater re-use for non-potable water needs; and they need to better
address the implementation of total close-loop water/energy systems such as a
wastewater sludge-to-energy program that is carefully and strategically making
its presence in select communities within Europe and North America.
At the end of the day, the combined 90 percent use of freshwater resources by industry/corporations/agriculture must be more effectively addressed as part of a more comprehensive plan for establishing a global green economy.
Only when the agricultural and industrial/corporate sectors begin to
better embrace a defined goal to reduce their water footprint in addition to
their respective carbon footprint will global society be able to establish a worldwide
green economy.
Labels: U.N., Kathy Shandling, water, MaximsNews WATER, MaximsNewsWATER, Earth Day, agriculture and water, water re-use, water conservation, water efficiency, water use industry corporations, wastewater, potable water, industry/corporations/agricultural water use, global green economy, water footprint, carbon footprint, green economy, water/energy systems, water efficiency, water conservation, sludge-to-energy programs, MaximsNews.tv, Video MaximsNews YouTube, VIDEO, MaximsNews.TV, United Nations, MaximsNews Network,
