Water; a seemingly innocuous, non-descript fluid that holds basically the key to all life on this planet within its make-up. Humans are made up of around 70% water and need to constantly drink water to replace that which is lost in order to remain hydrated and fully functional. Without water we will simply die within a very few days.
Water is also required by animals and plant life, which will also die without it. Apart from life, water is used for energy, industry, agriculture, and recreation amongst other uses. Without water there will be no sanitation either, as we also use water for personal hygiene.
How Water Can Affect National Security
It may seem strange to think that something like water can affect National Security, but around 25 years ago, Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali famously predicted that the next war in the Middle East would be fought over water. While this has not yet come about, the possibility of it happening is becoming more likely.
To understand how water can affect National Security, one need only look at the facts:
1. World water use has grown at double the rate of the human population over the past century;
2. With over 7 billion inhabitants on the planet, the global water supplies are being stretched to their limit;
3. Earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, making matters far worse;
4. Many of the vital freshwater systems are already depleted;
5. Due to large rivers running dry before they reach the sea, groundwater is being mined far deeper than ever before, beyond replenishment levels;
6. The quality of water is being eroded with growing pollution, widening the gap between those who have water and those who do not;
7. Many poorer and water scarce countries, consisting of around 4 billion inhabitants, will not be able to feed themselves within 15 years, due to a water scarcity;
8. Those that currently have water have in some countries instituted increasing control over their water flows, leaving others without even basic sanitation, let alone water for crop growing, drinking and other uses;
9. Continuously growing populations combined with the effects of global warming are just two of the problems that are spurring a likely War over Water; and
10. It is envisaged that lack of access to water and the effects of extreme weather conditions on fragile water infrastructures will create around 150 million environmental refugees within the next decade.
As the potable water resources become less and less, water will be more valued than gold, diamonds or oil, and countries will go to war to protect or gain what their populations need to survive. Then we will all understand how water can affect National Security – unfortunately by then it will be too late.
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