Far more than oil, the control of water wealth throughout history has been pivotal to the rise and fall of great powers, the achievements of civilization, the transformations of society’s vital habitats, and the quality of ordinary daily lives. Today, freshwater scarcity is one of the twenty-first century’s decisive, looming challenges, driving new political, economic, […]
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Zimbabwe water crisis: Ruling Zanu-PF to blame
Clean and plentiful water provides the foundation for the prosperity of any community for it to survive. Water supply issues should not be a problem for Zimbabwe since we share the Zambezi, Pungwe, Save and Limpopo water basins with neighbouring countries Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. However, mere access to water is not sufficient […]
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Water conservation incentives for U.S. Embassies
Facing mandates from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and a 2009 executive order from President Obama, federal government agencies are working to reduce energy and potable water consumption in their buildings. Compliance should help these agencies cut their costs and carbon footprints. But for the State Department, which manages some 19,000 buildings […]
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Diplomatic disputes over use of Nile water
Water is an emotive issue. It also adopts a political tone when it is used as a tool to control beliefs and opinions of a people. In places where economic systems of production vary — such agrarianism and pastoralism — water constitutes a serious security issue. In more ways than one, ‘hydro-politics’ — as the […]
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Access to clean water in South Africa a subject of protests
Access to clean drinking water in South Africa has been the subject of service delivery protests and even court action. For some communities, having permanent access to the resource has become a luxury. Unhappiness with the pace of delivery has seen many communities resort to service delivery protests. Municipalities blame a lack of resources and […]
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South Africa: Legal Action Over Access To Water?
The Human Rights Commission says government is likely to face legal action over the high number of people in the country who still don’t have access to clean drinking water and sanitation. The commission is holding public hearings around the country on the provision of the basic right to South Africans.
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USA Water Sector Needs: Private Infrastructure Funds
One of the great ironies in the US water sector is that while many cities are starved for funding, billions of dollars in capital raised by private infrastructure funds continues to sit on the sidelines untapped and looking for deals.
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Deadly Kenyan Water Wars
Nairobi — Water scarcity is fuelling deadly inter-ethnic wars that continue to claim lives in Kenya, according to government officials. And if nothing is done to educate communities on how to conserve the valuable resource, the situation will escalate, governance experts and environmentalists warn.
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Future political impact of water scarcity may be devastating
Oslo – The world needs to find the equivalent of the flow of 20 Nile rivers by 2025 to grow enough food to feed a rising population and help avoid conflicts over water scarcity, a group of former leaders said. Factors such as climate change would strain freshwater supplies and nations including China and India […]
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