Climate change? Pay heed to water

OVER the past two decades, climate change has steadily climbed up the international political agenda. Promoted by Nobel Prize winners, environmental and climate scientists, non-government organisations, Hollywood stars and film-makers, it has become a major global issue.

Water issues, sadly, have not drawn such support. In some regions, climate change may add to water stress, but the main issue is increasing global water shortage from overdraft.

There is no question that climate change is important. However, it should be very clear that solving the issue of climate change will not solve the problem of rapidly-increasing water scarcity. In our view, over the near to medium-term, efforts to ensure the availability of adequate quantity of good-quality water for all human uses have to be given greater impetus.