Transcript No Slide Title - Tri-State Water Resource Coalition

International Water Issues
An overview
Aaron Salzberg
Special Coordinator for Water Resources
U.S. Department of State
Creating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the
benefit of the American people and the international community.
Water and Health
over 800 million people lack access to safe water
over 2 billion people lack access to sanitation
Over 1 billion ill per year
Approximately 1.8-5 million deaths
per year
6,000 per day
Most children under 5
Water and Health
Over 1 billion ill per year
Approximately 1.8-5 million deaths
per year
6,000 per day
Most children under 5
WSH Deaths/1000 people
global child deaths by cause
Water and Food
Global Water Use
Population in will rise 71%
Demand for grain will increase 45%
Demand for beef will rise 91%
Increasing Demand in Sub Saharan Africa
arable land is decreasing
Vulnerable Land
Water and Energy
Water – Energy Nexus
Hydropower Development
The water cost of energy
Water and the Environment
1972
2007
Lake Chad
1973
2004
Aral Sea
Freshwater species declining
Hypoxic zones increasing
Water and Economic Growth
rainfall affects growth….
Correlation between GDP and Rainfall in Zimbabwe 1979-1993
15.0
3.0
2.0
5.0
0.0
-1.0
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
0.0
-2.0
-5.0
-3.0
Real GDPgrowth (%)
Variability in Rainfall (Meter)
-10.0
-4.0
Years
Zimbabwe
Variability in Rainfall (Meter)
1.0
1979
Real GDP growth (%)
10.0
Ethiopia
Water Storage Per Person (cubic meters)
water storage
Water and Natural Disasters
Water Disasters
Vulnerability to Disasters
Water, Peace and Security
(I.e., Water Wars)
over 40% of the world lives in a shared basin
water stress by international basin
Basins at Risk
the future
2020
2050
1990
2070
Water availability
climate change impacts
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007
Increasing hydrological variability
2025: over 1 billion people will face absolute
water scarcity
Basic Human Need / Dignity
Food/Energy Security
Economic growth, Poverty reduction, and
the Environment
Conflict prevention
Build trust and promote cooperation
Democracy Building
why water matters
During the next 10 years, many countries
important to the United States will experience
water problems—shortages, poor water quality,
or floods—that will risk instability and state
failure, increase regional tensions, and distract
them from working with the United States on
important US policy objectives. Between now
and 2040, fresh water availability will not keep
up with demand absent more effective
management of water resources. Water
problems will hinder the ability of key
countries to produce food and generate energy,
posing a risk to global food markets and
hobbling economic growth.
what are we doing
U.S. Department of State
Creating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the
benefit of the American people and the international community.
• Increase access to safe
drinking water and sanitation
• Improve water resources
management
• Increase the productivity of
water resources
• Mitigate tensions associated
with shared waters
www.state.gov/g/oes/water
U.S. Goals/Objectives
U.S. Department of State
Creating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the
benefit of the American people and the international community.
• Capacity building, institutional
strengthening, and regulatory
policy reform
• Diplomatic engagement
• Direct investment
• Investments in S&T
• Working in Partnership
www.state.gov/g/oes/water
U.S. Approach
U.S. Department of State
Creating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the
benefit of the American people and the international community.
Partnerships