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 6 November 2009
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Water experts say water scarcity is a major global concern

06/11/2009

Experts in the field of water told journalists at the United Nations that investment in water systems is critical to get water to those who need it for both drinking and irrigation.

Water scarcity

Water scarcity

They say the anticipated population growth and various climate change challenges are among the reasons water scarcity has become a major global concern. Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute, was at the UN to discuss the issue of water and told reporters some countries have used up their available water resources. He was not very optimistic about the future.

"We don't see things improving because of this increased in population growth. We have 2.5 billion more mouths to feed by 2050, and it looks to me as if we are going to have to do that using about ten percent less water."

The Director-General says governments must work to bring water governance systems from the 19th and 20th century into the 21st century with better institutions to tackle today's water-related challenges. He estimates that a $270 billion investment may be required.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'12")

Sound bites

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 1

"We don't see things improving because of this increased in population growth. We have 2.5 billion more mouths to feed by 2050, and it looks to me as if we are going to have to do that using about ten percent less water."
Duration: 00:00:15

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 2

"We're facing significant water scarcity, both physical scarcity in terms of countries having used up all their available water resources and also in the case of many sub-Saharan African countries, what we term economic scarcity. That is, there has not been enough investment to get the water to the people who need it, both for drinking and for irrigation."
Duration: 00:00:25

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 3

"We don't see things improving because of this increase in population growth - another 2.5 billion mouths to feed, changes in diet going to things like meat and dairy products which require a lot more water than grains and vegetables to produce."
Duration: 00:00:17

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 4

"As time goes on we expect that there'll be a thirty percent decrease in water resource availability."
Duration: 00:00:06

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 5

"We have 2.5 billion more mouths to feed by 2050, and it looks to me as if we're going to have to do that using about ten percent less water."
Duration: 00:00:11

Dr. Colin Chartres, Director-General of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, International Water Conflict Management Institute - Cut 6

"There are a range of solutions available to us. These solutions range from bringing our water governance systems from the 19th and 20th century into the 21st century with better institutions set up to tackle the problems we have today."
Duration: 00:00:19