World Population and Water Scarcity

WORLD POPULATION AND WATER SCARCITY

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, the week of October 20-25 has been designated as World Population Awareness Week with the theme of "Water: Our Most Precious Natural Resource."

Because the world's 6 billion people are dependent on 1 percent of all the water on Earth, many fear a future where water scarcity will undermine political growth and lead to political and social unrest. Over the next 20 years the world's population is projected to increase to 7.2 billion, yet the average water supply is expected to drop by one-third in that same time period. World population is expected to balloon to 9 billion before leveling off.

Despite the looming future of water scarcity, consumption is increasing. The world's population has tripled in the past 100 years, but water use by humans has multiplied six times. Without a global commitment to sustainable water management, the world will see a large majority of its population living in areas where basic water requirements for drinking, cooking, or sanitation will be difficult or impossible to meet.

Acting on the global consensus that water scarcity must be a top development priority, the Population Institute has decided to dedicate the 19th World Population Awareness Week to the issue of water.

More than 80 nations, 165 organizations, 201 mayors, and 22 Governors have dedicated proclamations of World
Population Awareness Week to highlighting the critical issue of water. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has made such a proclamation and I wish to call it to my colleagues' attention. I ask unanimous consent the proclamation be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

Whereas, the world's population of 6.3 billion is projected to rapidly continue to increase to increase to nearly 9 billion before finally slowing down, and

Whereas, the population of the United States currently exceeds 291 million, and it is estimated to increase to nearly 600 million by the year 2100; and

Whereas, the Population Institute, founded in 1969, is an independent, educational non-profit organization, dedicated to achieving a more equitable balance between the world's population, environment and resources; and

Whereas, since 1985, the Population Institute has organized World Population Awareness Week to create public awareness of the startling trends in population growth, the detrimental effects that rapid population growth has on our planet, and the
urgent need for action; and

Whereas, the theme of World Population Awareness Week 2003 is "Water: Our Most Precious Resource," and

Whereas, water is fundamental to sustaining life; and

Whereas, 20 percent of the world's population currently faces a water shortage, a figure expected to rise to 30 percent by the year 2025:

Therefore, I, Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 20-25, 2003 as WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK, and urge all citizens to conserve water whenever and whenever they can, and further reflect on ways to ensure adequate safe water supplies for future generations.

Mr. DURBIN. The week will be marked by events taking place at university campuses, community centers and civic institutions throughout the State to teach the residents of Illinois about the effects of a crowded planet.

In many hot spots around the world, there is simply a shortage of water. Some analysts predict that a major war over water is possible sometime in the future. Experts often cite the Middle East as an area where many water disputes could derail peace efforts or lead to another war. But there are critical water disputes the world over, and, as population increases, and potable water becomes yet more scarce, violent disputes over water become increasingly likely.

It is estimated that water shortages plague 20 percent of the world's population in at least 30 countries, and, it is estimated by 2025, as much as 30 percent of the world's population in 50 countries will face water shortages.

Even in places where there is enough water, it often is not clean enough to drink. An estimated 1.2 billion around the world lack an adequate, safe water supply, and 2.3 billion lack adequate sanitation. It is estimated that as many as 5 to 7 million people die every year from water-related diseases, including 2.2 million children under the age of 5.

Former Senator—and my friend and mentor—Paul Simon, has been a leader in the Senate and beyond in highlighting the need for better, cheaper ways to desalinate salt water. This is an area where improved technology has the potential to benefit millions of people and to help defuse brewing conflicts.

Many nations have begun to depend on desalinated water. For example, a number of Middle Eastern nations have come to depend in part on desalination, and the city of Los Angeles obtains a significant percentage of its water from desalination plants. But the technology is still expensive and out of reach for many nations, States, and municipalities.

But there are many "low tech" approaches that could conserve water in to promote the sustainable use of underground water aquifers, including drip irrigation or other agricultural practices that conserve water, water distribution systems that reduce leakage and evaporation, sewage systems that reduce water use, and many other solutions. Some of these solutions are expensive, but others require more changes in thinking and habits and a commitment of political determination than money.

That is why I want to bring this critical problem to my colleagues attention today. It is not hopeless. Awareness of the issue is the first step to implementing solutions, small and large, to be sure our descendants inherit a peaceful world with an adequate and safe supply of our most basic necessity—water.