Aaron Salzberg Special Coordinator for Water Resources International Water Issues An overview U.S....

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Aaron SalzbergSpecial Coordinator for Water Resources

International Water IssuesAn overview

U.S. Department of StateCreating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

Water and Health

over 800 million people lack access to safe water

over 2 billion people lack access to sanitation

Over 1 billion ill per year

Approximately 1.8-5 million deaths per year

6,000 per day

Most children under 5

Water and Health

Over 1 billion ill per year

Approximately 1.8-5 million deaths per year

6,000 per day

Most children under 5

WSH Deaths/1000 people

global child deaths by cause

Water and Food

Global Water Use

Population in will rise 71%Demand for grain will increase 45%

Demand for beef will rise 91%

Increasing Demand in Sub Saharan Africa

arable land is decreasing

Vulnerable Land

Water and Energy

Water – Energy Nexus

Hydropower Development

The water cost of energy

Water and the Environment

Lake Chad

1972 2007

Aral Sea

1973 2004

Freshwater species declining

Hypoxic zones increasing

Water and Economic Growth

Zimbabwe

Ethiopia

water storage

Water Storage Per Person (cubic meters)

Water and Natural Disasters

Water Disasters

Vulnerability to Disasters

Water, Peace and Security(I.e., Water Wars)

over 40% of the world lives in a shared basin

water stress by international basin

Basins at Risk

the future

1990202020502070

Water availability

climate change impacts

Increasing hydrological variability

IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007

2025: over 1 billion people will face absolute water scarcity

Basic Human Need / Dignity

Food/Energy Security

Economic growth, Poverty reduction, and the Environment

Conflict prevention

Build trust and promote cooperation

Democracy Building

why water matters

During the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will experience

water problems—shortages, poor water quality, or floods—that will risk instability and

state failure, increase regional tensions, and distract them from working with the United

States on important US policy objectives. Between now and 2040, fresh water availability

will not keep up with demand absent more effective management of water resources.

Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy,

posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth.

what are we doing

U.S. Goals/Objectives

U.S. Department of StateCreating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

• Increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation

• Improve water resources management

• Increase the productivity of water resources

• Mitigate tensions associated with shared waters

www.state.gov/g/oes/water

U.S. Approach

U.S. Department of StateCreating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

• Capacity building, institutional strengthening, and regulatory policy reform

• Diplomatic engagement

• Direct investment

• Investments in S&T

• Working in Partnershipwww.state.gov/g/oes/water

Partnerships

U.S. Department of StateCreating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

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