Water conflict is not new: Historical records show that humans have been fighting over water resources and marine access for almost 5,000 years. However, the world is increasingly “thirsty” because of growing populations and booming industrial activity. And as things stand, 2.1 billion people (almost a third of humanity) do not have access to safe drinking water, according to the UN.
Did you know?
Almost half of the world’s fresh water is contained in rivers that cross the borders of two or more countries. Roughly two-thirds of these transboundary rivers lack a cooperative management framework, according to research by the water institute SIWI.
IMD Speaks
Will tomorrow’s “fight for water” be as economically important as today’s “fight for oil”? “As companies need both a robust license to operate and an enabling environment, assuring adequate access to clean and plentiful supplies of water is a long-term business challenge that goes beyond the responsibility and scope of any single company.” Dr. Aileen Ionescu-Somers
