Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Combating water scarcity

Transcription

1 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Combating water scarcity

2 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).About FAO Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),si the oldest permanent specialized agency of the United Nations, established in October 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition and standards of living by increasing agricultural productivity. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, it maintains offices throughout the world. The organization, which has more than 180 members, is governed by the biennial FAO conference, in which each member country, as well as the European Union is represented. The conference elects a 49-member Council, which serves as its executive organ. In the late 20th century the FAO gradually became more decentralized, with about half its personnel working in field offices. Today the FAO is still the only global intergovernmental organization with a broad mandate in governing the world s food and agricultural system, although with the presence of numerous other players at the regional and global levels, its position is substantially different than in prior decades. Moreover, like other UN specialized agencies, the FAO is funded by assessed (obligatory) and voluntary contributions by member states. Member states assessed contributions are established at the biennial FAO conference. The regular budget for is USD 1 billion, and voluntary contributions, which support technical and emergency assistance to governments, are expected to approach USD 1.4 billion. 2

3 . It s Mission The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. It helps developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since the founding in 1945, they have focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 per cent of the world`s poor and hungry people. Their three Global Goals are: 1 Eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, progressively ensuring a world in 3

4 which people at all times have sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life; 2 Elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all, with increased food production, enhanced rural development and sustainable livelihoods; and 3 Sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations. To defeat hunger, FAO serves its member countries, particularly those affected by disasters, to improve sustainable agriculture, livestock, forestry, aquaculture, fisheries and natural resource management. Why are food and agriculture issues important? About one in nine people suffer from chronic hunger, most of them in the developing world, and as many as one in three people are currently affected by micronutrient deficiency, so-called hidden hunger. Despite some progress, achieving the target of halving hunger from its 1990 level by 2015 remains uncertain. Indeed, global food demand is projected to increase 70% by Issues such 4

5 as climate change; higher energy and fuel prices; surging demand for meat, fish, eggs and dairy products; and continued rapid population growth combine to make reducing hunger a complex global challenge. These challenges highlight the importance of an international architecture to monitor the performance of global food and agricultural systems, ensure that countries can provide food security for their populations, and promote cooperation among nations in solving problems related to food and agriculture systems. Combating water scarcity. Define Water Scarcity Water scarcity can mean scarcity in availability due to physical shortage, or scarcity in access due to the failure of institutions to ensure a regular supply or due to a lack of adequate infrastructure. Water scarcity already affects every continent. Water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and an increasing 5

6 number of regions are reaching the limit at which water services can be sustainably delivered, especially in arid regions. Water scarcity and drought know no national boundaries. But tension is rising between states competing over water claims, a precious resource. There is an increasing need to strengthen regional cooperation on water related challenges and solutions, particularly in water scarce and drought affected areas. Building resilience to water scarcity and drought requires us to collaborate across sectors and stakeholders. Given the size and scale of the challenge, we need global leadership that brings together actors from across a range of sectors and work pro-actively to address water scarcity and drought.. Water for life Water is essential for life. No living being on planet Earth can survive without it. It is a prerequisite for human health and well-being as well as for the preservation of the environment. However, four of every ten people in the world do not have access to even a simple pit latrine; and nearly two in ten have no source of safe drinking water. Every year millions of people, most 6

7 of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. According to the World Health Organization, each and every day some 3,900 children die because of dirty water or poor hygiene; diseases transmitted through water or human excrement are the second-leading cause of death among children worldwide, after respiratory diseases. Water scarcity, poor water quality, and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices, and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. Water-related natural disasters such as floods, tropical storms and tsunamis exert a heavy toll in human life and suffering. And all too regularly, drought afflicts some of the world's poorest countries, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition. Beyond meeting basic human needs, water supply and sanitation services, as well as water as a resource, are critical to sustainable development. It is a major source of energy in some parts of the world, while in others its potential as an energy source remains largely untapped. Water is also necessary for agriculture and for many industrial processes. And in more than a few countries, it makes up an integral part of transport systems. With improved scientific understanding, the international community has also come to appreciate more fully the valuable services provided by water-related ecosystems, from flood control to storm protection and water purification. Water challenges will increase significantly in the coming years. Continuing population growth and rising incomes will lead to greater water consumption, as well as more waste. The urban population in developing countries will grow dramatically, generating demand well beyond the capacity of already inadequate water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services. According to the UN World Water Development Report, by 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of freshwater.. Human Factor When thinking of dealing with water scarcity there are many factors to be considered besides direct technical matters dealing with collection of water and prevention of losses. In fact also 7

8 human dimension is really important. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has observed that human activities on the land are the major causes of water shortages and water pollution claiming that agricultural development, urbanisation and industrialisation, he said, cause the most harm and must be the primary focus of freshwater management efforts. Over its history humankind has developed cultural traditions, social structures and institutions which have a huge impact on the availability of water. Water scarcity may be due to natural causes like aridity and droughts or to man made causes which is produced to a wide range of factors. Among these we can highlight (1) pollution or contamination (urban, industrial, mining) which eventually cause degradation of the water before it can accessed by users, (2) poor water management and the inequities in its allocations (3) insufficient or inadequate infrastructure for water collection, storage and distribution and when infrastructures maintenance is poor. 1 Another cause related to human factor to explain water scarcity is overpopulation. In fact the rapid increase of human population combined by massive growth in industry sector have transformed water ecosystems and resulted in loss of biodiversity. As population is increasing at an ever increasing rate, the demand for new resources will result in additional pressure on freshwater source (Molden,2007) 1 Ian Cordery,Pereira Santos Pereira (2009) Coping with Water Scarsicity: Addressing the Challenge,Springer Science & Business Media 8

9 . Climate and its implications The relationship between water, energy, agriculture and climate is a significant one. More and more, that relationship is falling out of balance jeopardizing food, water and energy security. Climate change is a phenomenon we can no longer deny as its effects have become increasingly evident worldwide. On the list of warmest years on record, almost every year since 1992 is included and, according to NASA and NOAA data, 2015 was the hottest. As the earth's temperature continues to rise, we can expect a significant impact on our fresh water supplies with the potential for devastating effects on these resources. As temperatures increase, evaporation increases, sometimes resulting in droughts. The US is currently in one of the most severe, multi-state, multi-year droughts in decades. 9

10 Complicating this potential outcome is the prediction that in a warmer environment, more precipitation will occur as rain rather than snow. Although more rain than snow may seem like a plus, it could mean more frequent water shortages. When snow and ice collect on mountaintops, water is released slowly into reservoirs as it melts throughout the spring and summer. When rain falls, reservoirs fill quickly to capacity in the winter, which can also result in excess water runoff that can't be stored. Because rain flows faster than melting snow, higher levels of soil moisture and groundwater recharge are less likely to occur. Areas that rely on snowmelt as their primary freshwater source could increasingly experience water shortages, like having low water supplies by summer's end. The relationship between climate change and water doesn't end there. The systems used to treat and move public water supplies require large amounts of energy, produced mainly by burning coal, natural gas, oil and other fossil fuels. So, when we use water we also use energy and contribute to climate change. In addition, bottled water is a small but real contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, because it takes fuel to make plastic bottles and ship them around the country (and even the world). This is unnecessary when you consider that bottled water is often just filtered tap water. Climate change will likely: Decrease natural water storage capacity from glacier/snowcap melting, and subsequently reduce long-term water availability for more than one-sixth of the world s population that lives in glacier- or snowmelt-fed river basins, including major regions of China, India, Pakistan and the western U.S. Increase the vulnerability of ecosystems due to temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns, frequent severe weather events, and prolonged droughts. This will further diminish the ability of natural systems to filter water and create buffers to flooding. Affect the capacity and reliability of water supply infrastructure due to flooding, extreme weather, and sea level rise. Most existing water treatment plants and distribution systems were not built to withstand expected sea level concentrate snowmelt and precipitation into shorter time frames, making both water releases more extreme and drought events more 10

11 sustained. Current infrastructure often does not have the capacity to fully capture this larger volume of water, and therefore will not be able to meet water demands in times of sustained drought. Increase water scarcity due to changes in precipitation patterns and intensity. In particular, the subtropics and mid-latitudes, where much of the world s poorest populations live, are expected to become substantially drier, resulting in heightened water scarcity. 2 How to measure water scarcity One of the most commonly used measures of water scarcity is the Falkenmark indicator or water stress index. This method defines water scarcity in terms of the total water resources that are available to the population of a region; measuring scarcity as the amount of renewable freshwater that is available for each person each year. The water stress index method is commonly used because it is straightforward, easy to use, and the data needed is readily available. A third measure of water scarcity was developed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). This approach attempts to solve the problems listed above by including: each country s water infrastructure, such as water in desalination plants, into the measure of water 2 Vorosmarty, C.J., et al. (2010), Global Threats to Human Water Security and River Biodiversity, Nature, Vol. 467, pp

12 availability; including recycled water by limiting measurements of water demand to consumptive use rather than total withdrawals ; and measuring the adaptive capacity of a country by assessing its potential for infrastructure development and efficiency improvement. An alternative way of defining and measuring water scarcity is to use a criticality ratio. This approach relaxes the assumption that all countries use the same amount of water, instead defining water scarcity in terms of each country s compared to the amount of water available; measuring scarcity as the proportion of total annual water withdrawals relative to total available water resources3. Using this approach, a country is said to be water scarce if annual withdrawals are between 20-40% of annual supply, and severely water scarce if they exceed 40%. While this approach avoids the overly simplistic assumption that all countries have the same demand for water, it also has its limitations: 1 It does not consider man-made increases in water supply (such as desalination); 2 It ignores water withdrawals that are recycled and reused; 3 It doesn t consider the capacity of countries to adapt to lower water availability through changing behaviour or new technology A fourth approach to measuring water scarcity is the water poverty index. This approach attempts to take into account the role of income and wealth in determining water scarcity by measuring: (1) the level of access to water; (2) water quantity, quality, and variability; (3) water used for domestic, food, and productive purposes; (4) capacity for water management; and (5) environmental aspects. The complexity of this approach, however, means that it is more suited for analysis at a local scale, where data is more readily available, than on a national level. There is, therefore, no single definition of water scarcity; different measurements capture different aspects of the pressures on water resources, and there isn t one measure which captures them all. 3 3 Damkjaer Simon The measurement of water scarcity: Defining a meaningful indicator (2017) Volume 46, Issue 5, pp

13 . Water: a Global Challenge According to the United Nations, around 2.4 billion people deal with lack of water and access to basic sanitation services. Water scarcity affects more than the 40 per cent of the global population and this data are destined to increase with time. The standard clearly is a violation the basic human right to water and sanitation and has therefore been identified as one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. As claimed by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, directorgeneral of the World Health Organization Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege of only those who are rich or live in urban centers, says. These are some of the most basic requirements for human health, and all countries have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them. The World Health Organization defines safe drinking water as drinking water free of 13

14 contamination that is available at home when needed. Of the 2.1 billion people without access to clean water, 844 million do not have a protected drinking water source that takes less than 30 minutes to access, 263 million of whom must make trips of more than 30 minutes to retrieve water. Nearly 160 million get their drinking water from streams and lakes. Unsafe sanitation services are defined as when excrement cannot be treated and disposed of safely. Of the 4.5 billion without safely managed sanitation, 2.3 billion do not have basic sanitation services, which are defined as having a toilet that is not shared with another household, and having hand washing facilities within the home. There are 892 million people who defecate in open areas, a problem that is worsening in sub-saharan African and Oceania. Lacking access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation are closely related, and the report is the first global assessment of both issues. Inadequate sanitation and water are linked to the spread of a host of diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis and typhoid. Every year, over 350,000 children under the age of 5 die due to diarrhea brought on by inadequate sanitary conditions. Safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene are critical to the health of every child and every community and thus are essential to building stronger, healthier and more equitable societies, says UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. As we improve these services in the most disadvantaged communities and for the most disadvantaged children today, we give them a fairer chance at a better tomorrow. Which are the possible solutions? - One of the key ways of solving the problem of water scarcity can be through (1) infrastructure repair and maintenance of water channels. Leaking pipes and sewage systems normally lead to water wastage and contamination respectively. If these infrastructures are left unattended to over time, the cumulative effects can create water shortages. Millions of liters of water are lost yearly in various regions of the world owing to leakages and sewer contamination, creating water shortages. 4 4 Water Sustainability, UN Global Compact, May 13, See: environment/water_sustainability/index.htm 14

15 -Another key point could be (2) water management by the use of regulations and policies can help reduce water scarcity. The regulations and policies can address the water-related problems including aspects such as water reuse, water resource management, water rights, industrial water use, wetland restoration, domestic water supplies, water pollution and others. In precise, water management has the capability of addressing human interventions and the various natural events in connection with resources and the long-term water policy decisions on the environment and economy. - (3) Water conservation is one of the leading ways to grow out of water scarcity. It is an indirect approach to reducing water demands and is it usually critical in maintaining the supply-demand balance. During droughts and in densely populated regions, for instance, water conservation efforts ensure there is a supply-demand balance. The approaches can easily be implemented as they involve simple ways of saving water. For water conservation to be effective enough, it has to work hand in hand with water management policies. - (4) Education: There are plenty of opportunities out there that people can use in order to learn more about the world around them. By educating those who are not dealing with 15

16 water scarcity, they can be in a position to help. Those who are dealing with it can get educated on how they can prevent the problem from becoming even worse in the future. Bibliography 16

17 Damkjaer Simon The measurement of water scarcity: Defining a meaningful indicator (2017) Volume 46, Issue 5, pp Molden, D. (ed.) (2007), Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, Earthscan/International Water Management Institute, London, UK. Ian Cordery,Pereira Santos Pereira (2009) Coping with Water Scarsicity: Addressing the Challenge,Springer Science & Business Media Vorosmarty, C.J., et al. (2010), Global Threats to Human Water Security and River Biodiversity, Nature, Vol. 467, pp Sitography Water Sustainability, UN Global Compact, May 13, See: environment/water_sustainability/index.htm