Climate Change and Water briefing
updated October 2008
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| Glacial lake, Bhutan © Piet van der Poel |
The reduction in water availability caused by retreating Himalayan glaciers is possibly the impact on freshwater which carries the greatest risk to the greatest number of people. Restricted flow into the River Ganges could impact 400 million people in India and 35% of the country's irrigated land. Both India and China are dependent on stable monsoon rainfall for agriculture and water supplies, stability which is already showing signs of breakdown.
A long list of adaptation strategies in the IPCC report concludes with a brief recognition that developing countries cannot possibly afford them and may have to resort to “unsustainable practices such as increasing groundwater over-exploitation”.
It is clear that climate change could fundamentally alter the delicate ecology of the water cycle, with devastating impact on freshwater dependence. Failure to synchronise the planet's freshwater resources with the demands of humanity may be the crisis that finally spurs governments into decisive action on climate change.
Help us to complete OneWorld Guides
Many important development issues are missing from our range of Guides. OneWorld wants to fill these gaps as part of our efforts to improve understanding of the issues faced by developing countries. We receive no funding for the production of our educational resources. Every small contribution helps!
Many important development issues are missing from our range of Guides. OneWorld wants to fill these gaps as part of our efforts to improve understanding of the issues faced by developing countries. We receive no funding for the production of our educational resources. Every small contribution helps!
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