Title-Population 4x More Important Than Climate Change on Water Shortage.
Author: Jaymi Heimbuch
Date: 10/1/2010
publication: Treehugger.com
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| The population of the World is almost 7 billion humans!!! |
Summary:
We're well aware of the fact that humans have a significant impact on water supplies -- from groundwater pumping to altering the course and flow of the world's rivers, we are no small player in how much fresh water exists on the planet. However, would we ever have guessed that we were four times more significant than climate change on water supplies? A new report shows that we really need to focus far more on humans than warming temperatures if we want to avoid major water conflicts in the near future.
Researchers in Finland and The Netherlands have analyzed the mix of population growth, climate data and water resources and have found that despite the fact that our global climate is shifting at a dizzying rate, our population boom as a species has a far greater impact on water sources.
Environmental researchers reports that according to the study, about 2% of the world's population experienced water shortages in 1900, but it shot up to 9% in 1960 and skyrocketed to 35% in 2005. The water shortages fall in line with our population rise -- but it also seems to fall in line with our heightened consumption of goods and services on a global level.
"In Eastern Asia and North Africa, over 20% of the population has been under some level of water shortage since the year 1900," Matti Kummu of Aalto University, Finland told the Environmental Research Web. "In the Middle East, this point was not reached until 1960, and in South Asia slightly later. In South Asia the trend has been particular sharp as today over 90% of the population are under some level of water shortage."
The researchers feel that the study highlights that in some areas there simply isn't enough water to support the population.
"Consequently, there will be an increasing need for non-structural measures, focusing on increasing the efficiency of water use, lowering water use intensity, reforming the economic structure of countries or entire regions, and optimising virtual water flows from regions without shortage to regions with shortage."
Environmental researchers reports that according to the study, about 2% of the world's population experienced water shortages in 1900, but it shot up to 9% in 1960 and skyrocketed to 35% in 2005. The water shortages fall in line with our population rise -- but it also seems to fall in line with our heightened consumption of goods and services on a global level.
"In Eastern Asia and North Africa, over 20% of the population has been under some level of water shortage since the year 1900," Matti Kummu of Aalto University, Finland told the Environmental Research Web. "In the Middle East, this point was not reached until 1960, and in South Asia slightly later. In South Asia the trend has been particular sharp as today over 90% of the population are under some level of water shortage."
The researchers feel that the study highlights that in some areas there simply isn't enough water to support the population.
"Consequently, there will be an increasing need for non-structural measures, focusing on increasing the efficiency of water use, lowering water use intensity, reforming the economic structure of countries or entire regions, and optimising virtual water flows from regions without shortage to regions with shortage."
Opinion: I think that we should definitely watch out for our water supplies because according to this article it should be gone in a matter of 20-30 years. If we will lose all of our water supply not even one single human would survive in this world and the human population growth would go to extinction.
I think we should control the human population growth because if we won't start taking care of it today, it might hurt our kids and family in the near future. we should have laws that would control the human population from getting too big.
Questions:
1.What do you think would happen to the human population growth when there won't be any water supply left?
2. What do you think the government should do to stop this massive human population growth?
3.what do you think would happen to the cost of regular water in the next 10 to 50 years?
I think that it's extremely important that we control the human population because our water sources could very easily be affected negitively if we continue to grow this fast. The recent skyrocket in the percentage of people suffering from water shortage shows how aware of this we need to be. The way that we use up our fresh water seriously affects the amount of water that we have left and we need to use our water wisely and not contribute anymore than we already do to the global warming and pollution rate.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to question three, I think that if we have less fresh water readily availble for us, then we're going to find ourselves spending more and more on water. And because it's a basic human need, we're going to NEED to find the money to get water for us. And if we're spending money on water, than we're not going to have money to spend on any other things and our standard of living is going to majorly decrease. We need to be careful because this won't just affect people in small countries and underdeveloped areas, it's going to affect all of us and the way we live.
I never really thought we used that much waterthat it would be a problem in only 20-30 years. That's not that far away if you think about it.I think it would help if everyone became more cautious and aware of the water problem. Question one is the type of answer that no one wants to hear. with out water the human race will die out. Wed need water to live. simple as that, so we need to fix this problem as soon as possible!
ReplyDeleteI would've never guessed that this huge threat of water depletion is coming up in only 20 to 30 years. There is already a large percentage of places that don't have enough water to sustain their population and I cringe at the thought of how little water we will have left in the future. Humans need water to survive on earth and if we don't have water, humans will become extinct. If there is no more water, there is no more population growth. This means that having water sources is crucial. I'm hoping the human race turns out to be like a s-curve, not a j-curve, so that our population peaks and then decreases to around the carrying capacity of earth and stays there.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is really important that we control the amount of water we are uing and also control our population. If we eventually do run out of water then noone will be able to live and i think all of the humans will die. Water is the biggest thing we need and with summers getting hotter and hotter we will need more water every day. I hope that we are able to solve this problem, i dont think that any scientist of the previous generation can solve this, it is up to us, the kids of our generation.
ReplyDeleteIn the next 50 years i think that the price of a normal bottle of water will most likely go up to or close to about 7 or more dollars a bottle. Since if you go to any normal store and you can buy a single bottle for about 1-2 dollars and at some stores you cna buy a pack for like 3 dollars, i think that it will only be affordable for the wealthy people. This crisis needs to be solved quickly. I think that the term " You dont know what you got until its gone" will come into effect for water shortage in the nect 10-15 years