Introduction
Sustainable development is impossible without water, which is a prerequisite for all life on Earth. Water should be available to everyone as it assures the preservation of healthy ecosystems, food production, security, and, as a result, economic growth. However, the water cycle is becoming more unpredictable due to climate change, causing water scarcity, deteriorating water quality, and jeopardizing sustainable development worldwide. Many contributing factors, such as an increasing population, uncontrolled migration, land-use changes, increased groundwater extraction, and biodiversity loss, amplify these adverse effects, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and poor communities.
When it comes to climate change, there is a wide range of variations and unevenness around the globe. Some regions face terrible droughts, while others deal with more frequent and severe floods and storms. Increasing demand for water for energy, agriculture, industry, and human use leads to increasingly challenging trade-offs for this limited and precious resource, particularly in areas of the world already experiencing water stress. It is common knowledge that people are most likely to notice the effects of climate change through the water. This essay focuses on the adverse impact that water scarcity has brought today with the view that water is the most valuable element in running critical processes in the world.
The Magnitude of the Problem
Water scarcity is an issue that has raised vital debates today on various mainstream media platforms. It affects an estimated 3.6 billion people worldwide for at least one month of the year (World Water Development Report 2018, 2018). The number of those affected is expected to rise to 4.8–5.7 billion people by 2050 (World Water Development Report 2018, 2018). This increase in world population is predicted to incite rivalry among water consumers within nations and across regions. Thus, people are likely to feel compelled to flee their homes due to natural calamities linked to the hydrological cycle if no actions are taken to resolve this issue.
Scholarly View of Water Scarcity
Due to its ecological and social uses, water is an indispensable resource. In light of water’s crucial role in socio-ecological systems, Jaeger et al. (2017) emphasize the necessity of anticipating water shortages. According to Jaeger et al. (2017), the problem is formidable because of the variety, feedback, and water’s spatial and temporal sequencing in social-ecological systems. Thus, many social factors contribute to water shortages caused by climate change.
Furthermore, freshwater sources play a significant role in determining the availability and shortage of water. According to Gude (2017), desalination could help alleviate worldwide water shortages. The author claims that freshwater sources for human consumption and other purposes are minimal despite the planet’s abundance of water. Meanwhile, the demand for freshwater worldwide due to population growth, industrial development, and rising living standards continues to grow.
In addition, the world’s ever-growing population necessitates a continual supply of water for various purposes. Veldkamp et al. (2017) insist that today’s water supply and shortage can be influenced by human interventions, such as land use and cover change, constructed reservoirs, and human water use. Thus, this issue must be considered from the perspective of devising strategies to deal with an ever-growing global world population.
Article Comparison
As water scarcity continues to worsen, all three articles advocate human involvement. A lack of water is a significant issue in today’s society, which shows that academics have acknowledged it. As a result, the proposed remedies are only meant to counteract the current problem, not prevent its recurrence. They all recognize the vital role of water in numerous life processes, making it one of the most valuable natural resources ever to have existed. Jaeger et al. (2017) present a systematic strategy to cope with water scarcity using a regional system model, whereas the other two studies focus on human intervention. Based on the climatic issue producing water scarcity, Jaeger et al. (2017) use an all-inclusive approach based on the plan that would work best. Water scarcity is addressed by Gude (2017) and Veldkam et al. (2017) using a single-solution method. They, therefore, use a variety of ways to investigate water scarcity.
Projected Future Trends in Water Scarcity
Droughts will become more powerful, longer-lasting, and more widespread due to climate change. According to estimates, more than two-thirds of the world’s population might face severe water stress conditions by 2025 if current trends continue (World Wildlife, 2021). Aridity is anticipated to rise in regions of Europe, Northern and Southern Africa, and Central Asia due to climate change. Water constraints directly cause desertification, with freshwater shortages affecting populations in dryland areas.
Human activity and population growth trends noted worldwide can also contribute to water scarcity. As a result of population and GDP development, energy demand will increase by more than 50% by 2030 (International Renewable Energy Agency, 2018). Depleting fossil fuel stocks will account for 83% of this rise, with population expansion in developing countries accounting for more than 70% of this demand (International Renewable Energy Agency, 2018). Hydropower, cooling of power plants, fossil fuel production and processing, the hydrogen economy, and biomass production all rely on water, which is essential. In nations that rely heavily on hydropower, such as Central Asia, governments may have to make difficult compromises between water for electricity generation and water for the agricultural, household, or industrial usage during drought and freezing weather.
Addressing Water Scarcity
Water scarcity should be addressed by developing a hygiene culture, gaining access to better water sources, and implementing best practices in water management. Public health efforts to combat water scarcity should focus on supporting and educating the general public (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Public health agencies are advised to educate their communities on easy steps to reduce water waste, such as replacing inefficient washing machines or washing dishes by hand instead of using dishwashers. In addition, public health initiatives can include providing water to vulnerable populations to avoid adverse health risks caused by restricted access to drinking water.
Ethical Issues in Addressing Water Scarcity Issue
A major ethical dilemma that should be confronted is the disrespect for the intrinsic value of water and the natural world in general. Such small ignorant acts as brushing their teeth while the water is running show how irresponsibly people use water. Ethical considerations must be considered while dealing with water loss and contamination. The moral principle of sustainability should serve as the guiding ethical standard in this case. There must be a limit to how much a given natural water source may absorb human-induced water loss and contamination.
Conclusion
The policy environment in which actions to increase water supply are implemented can significantly impact their success. Since the optimal solution for each community varies, applicable rules must be in place at both a national and local level. Advances in other fields may be of little use if they are not accompanied by policies that encourage the improvement of water supply and prioritize providing better services for marginalized populations. Water supply improvements in small towns can only be achieved with the help of international agencies, states, local authorities, or their equivalents. Improved water quality and quantity and a more equitable allocation of water resources between home and industrial usage are possible outcomes of policies adopted at the international level. These policies can also be implemented at the national level.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Preparing for the health effects of drought: A resource guide for public health professionals.
Gude, V. G. (2017). Desalination and water reuse to address global water scarcity. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 16(4), 591–609.
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2018). Global renewables outlook: Energy transformation 2050.
Jaeger, W. K., Amos, A., Bigelow, D. P., Chang, H., Conklin, D. R., Haggerty, R., Langpap, C., Moore, K., Mote, P. W., Nolin, A. W., Plantinga, A. J., Schwartz, C. L., Tullos, D., & Turner, D. P. (2017). Finding water scarcity amid abundance using human–natural system models. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(45), 11884–11889.
Veldkamp, T., Wada, Y., Aerts, J., Döll, P., Gosling, S. N., Liu, J., Masaki, Y., Oki, T., Ostberg, S., Pokhrel, Y., Satoh, Y., Kim, H., & Ward, P. J. (2017). Water scarcity hotspots travel downstream due to human interventions in the 20th and 21st century. Nature Communications, 8(1), 1–12.
World Water Development Report 2018. (2018). Nature-based solutions for water. UN-Water.
World Wildlife Fund. (2021). Water scarcity.