The report analyzes the per capita annual availability of renewable fresh water in 149 countries, covering almost all the earth's land surface.
| Title | Sustaining water : population and the future of renewable water supplies |
| Publication Type | Miscellaneous |
| Year of Publication | 1993 |
| Authors | Engelman, R, LeRoy, P |
| Pagination | 56 p.: 5 boxes, 7 fig., 3 tab. |
| Date Published | 1993-01-01 |
| Publisher | Population Action International |
| Place Published | Washington, DC, USA |
| Keywords | cab93/6, case studies, china, india, international level, mexico, policies, population, statistics, sustainable development, usa, water conservation, water resources, water shortage, water use |
| Abstract | The report analyzes the per capita annual availability of renewable fresh water in 149 countries, covering almost all the earth's land surface. The 100 countries with the least per capita renewable fresh water in 1990 are ranked graphically in a detachable centrepiece chart. The report argues that population dynamics are critical to the availability of renewable freshwater. Based on this analysis, the report concludes that per capita availability of renewable fresh water is falling dramatically around the world, driving many countries beneath key benchmarks of water stress and scarcity. Some nations are turning increasingly to non-renewable water, stealing from the future to satisfy the needs of the present. It is argued that strategies put into effect today, however, can contribute significantly to the future availability of fresh water. Water can be used more efficiently, and there are options for developing new supplies. An underlying conclusion of the report is that sustainable use of renewable water, can however, only be guaranteed over the long term by stabilizing population. |
| Notes | 41 ref. |
| Custom 1 | 276, 820 |
