GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE (0457)

INDIVIDUAL REPORT (component 2)

Atta-Ulla (Candidate Number)

Topic: Water Scarcity
Question: Are Climate Change and Geopolitical Tensions the Main Driver of the
Global Water Crisis?

Introduction:

The global water crisis is a severe and intricate issue that has an impact on communities, industries,
and ecosystems everywhere. It is caused by a variety of environmental, social, and political factors,
but two of the most significant ones are geopolitical tensions and climate change. Climate change
makes water scarcity worse by altering rainfall patterns, increasing the frequency of droughts, and
reducing the amount of freshwater accessible. On the other hand, geopolitical tensions resulting
from shared water resources lead to conflicts over access, control, and distribution. When coupled
with other factors like population growth and poor water management, these issues make the
global water crisis even more severe.
.

Global Perspective

The water crisis appears differently in different parts of the world. Extreme water scarcity already
exists in some regions of the world, such as the Middle East and North Africa, while other regions
struggle with pollution, ineffective water management, or growing water demand. More than 2
billion people reside in nations with significant levels of water stress, according to the UN. This
situation is made worse by climate change, which alters weather patterns, decreases snowpack, and
makes droughts and floods more severe. In the meantime, the issue is made worse by geopolitical
tensions in areas like the Jordan River, the Tigris-Euphrates basin, and the Nile where nations
share border water supplies. Maintaining sustainable water management systems and ensuring
equal access to water are becoming more and more challenging due to the confluence of these
global factors.

National Perspective

The effects of the global water crisis are being felt differently by different nations at the national
level. For example, excessive groundwater exploitation, water pollution, and ineffective irrigation
techniques have severely strained India's water supply, resulting in regular droughts and escalating
water scarcity. Egypt, which depends heavily on the Nile River, has to deal with environmental and
political issues because of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam's upstream water use. Similar to this,
inadequate infrastructure and growing population demand are severely depleting limited water
supplies in many regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Within nations, geopolitical tensions can also
arise, particularly in places with unequal water distribution or when urban and rural communities
have conflicting interests.
Causes and Consequences:
Causes:

Climate Change: The availability of water resources is directly impacted by temperature,

precipitation, and extreme weather events (such droughts and floods), which results in water
shortage.
Geopolitical Tensions: Rivalries over common waterways, such lakes or rivers, can impede
neighborly cooperation and make it more difficult to manage water resources.
Population Growth: The need for water for agriculture, drinking, and sanitation rises as the
world's population grows, placing strain on available supplies.

Water Mismanagement: Pollution, inadequate infrastructure, inefficient water use, and a lack
of funding for water management

Consequences:

• Economic Impact: Lack of water has a detrimental effect on industrial operations, energy
production, and agricultural output, resulting in financial losses, food insecurity, and social unrest.
• Health Issues: Vulnerable communities in developing countries are disproportionately
affected by waterborne infections, which are caused by a lack of access to clean water.
• Social Unrest: Social disputes, migration, and relocation can be brought on by unequal access
to water and competition for resources.
• Environmental Degradation: Excessive water extraction harms aquatic biodiversity,
wetlands, and riverbeds, among other ecosystems, which in turn affects local economies that
depend on these ecosystems.
Possible Course of Action:

To mitigate the global water crisis, a multi-pronged approach is needed:

1. 1. International Cooperation: To manage shared water resources fairly, nations

must work together. Conflicts can be avoided and equitable water distribution can be
ensured through agreements like those outlined in the United Nations Watercourses
Convention.
2. Water Conservation and Efficiency: By putting effective water management
strategies into practice in homes, businesses, and agriculture, water waste may be greatly
decreased and the sustainability of current supplies can be enhanced.
3. Climate Change Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help
stabilize weather patterns and lessen the strain that extreme events place on water systems.

4. Investment in Water Infrastructure: Providing dependable water access,

especially in urban areas and emerging nations, requires the construction and upkeep of
sustainable water storage, distribution, and purification systems.
5. Education and Public Awareness: Increasing awareness about the importance
of water conservation and the environmental and social implications of water scarcity can
lead to more responsible water usage at all levels of society.
Evaluation of Sources:

When evaluating sources of information on the water crisis, it’s important to consider:
 1. Scientific Research: Reliable, fact-based insights into the origins and consequences of
the water problem are offered by peer-reviewed studies from the fields of hydrology,
climate science, and environmental science. These studies are usually rigorously validated
and rely on data from reliable sources.
2. Reports from International Organizations: Based on years of data and
professional research, reports from organizations like the World Bank, the United Nations,
and the World Health Organization provide thorough summaries of global water concerns
and solutions.
3. Government and NGO Publications: Reports that concentrate on particular areas
or nations are frequently produced by national governments and non-governmental
organizations. They should be cross-checked with other sources because, despite their
potential for information, these could also have political or ideological biases.
4. Media Coverage: Although media outlets offer fast updates, commercial interests may
sensationalize or distort the facts they report. It's crucial to evaluate media reports critically
and double-check the information from more reliable sources.

In conclusion, the global water issue is largely caused by geopolitical tensions and climate
change, but there are other variables at work as well. The issue is exacerbated by economic
pressures, bad management, and population increase. Long-term investment in water
systems, sustainable practices, and concerted international initiatives are needed to
successfully address the situation.

Brief Answer:
Geopolitical tensions and climate change are two major elements contributing to the global water
dilemma. Competition over shared water resources, particularly in areas like the Middle East and
Africa, causes geopolitical conflicts, while climate change alters weather patterns, increasing the
frequency of droughts and floods. Freshwater scarcity is made worse by these problems, rapid
population increase, and inadequate water management.

Water scarcity impacts billions of people worldwide, with South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
being especially vulnerable. At the national level, over-extraction and political unrest are causing
increasing water stress in nations like Egypt and India. Climate change, population increase, and
inadequate water management are the primary causes of the crisis, which has resulted in financial
losses, health risks, and social unrest.

Possible solutions include international cooperation on water management, investment in water

infrastructure, and the promotion of water conservation. Mitigating climate change is also critical
to addressing the crisis. Reliable sources on this issue include scientific research, reports from
international organizations, and government publications, but media coverage must be approached
with caution due to potential biases.

Conclusion:

However, before I began my research, I was aware of the possible consequences of water scarcity.
However, doing extensive research on the subject enabled me to compile data and hone my
perspective on the UN's and other international organizations' efforts to develop peace accords,
regulations, and protection initiatives that were started by different countries, such as Egypt and
Turkey, to construct dams and wastewater treatment facilities in order to reduce the risks of water
shortages and post-drought outflows. Since then, my perspective has evolved. Water scarcity, in
my opinion, could only lead to cold wars and could never spark massive, world-war-style conflicts.
However, after finishing this report, I've decided that the fight can proceed on this

Reflection:

This story made me realize that water scarcity is a global issue brought on by conflicts and climate
change. Only the worldwide water shortage was known to me before I started writing this thesis; I
had no idea what the main reasons were for this issue. I discovered that several countries are
fighting for water, which could lead to chaos. I hope that countries will be creating new programs
and figuring out how to deal with the issue of water scarcity because climate change will cause
many people to die.

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