Print…half of the world's population will probably be living in areas that suffer from severe shortages of fresh water, meaning that management of natural resources will be a crucial component of global national security efforts.
Thom Shanker,
New York Times, 12-10-2012,
article about 2012 report by the U.S. National Intelligence Council with prediction for 2030
Water conflicts are widespread, and as climate changes further impact freshwater resources and human populations place increasing demands on water use, conflicts are expected to increase and expand. Water conflicts involve disputes over access to water resources by nations, states, or groups of people. Chapter 11 of the text describes four types of water conflict: consumptive use, pollution, relative distribution, and absolute distribution. Examples of each are provided in the text. In addition, two case studies (one affecting transboundary conditions of the Nile and one about the Amazon concerning indigenous people in Brazil) are provided as examples of how to proceed with your own review of a water conflict for Assignment 10.1.