CSIS: Global Water Futures

This White Paper addresses the growing global challenges of dealing with the
devastating effects of increasing water scarcity and declining water quality. Across
the planet, in developing and developed regions alike, poor governance and
mismanagement of natural resources coupled with rising population growth,
increasing urbanization, and economic development have led to a growing
imbalance between water supply and demand. This imbalance is reaching crisis
proportions in many regions. It will have even more significant consequences for
economic development, stability and security unless the there is a more dramatic
and urgent international response. Several international forums have arisen to
address just this issue. The question remains how the United States could and
should engage these forums and formulate a response to the world’s freshwater
challenges. The goals of this White Paper, therefore, are to (1) make the case for
elevating the response to global water challenges as a strategic priority; (2) identify
the most effective responses to global water challenges; and (3) explore U.S. policy
options, current and future.

For More Information:
http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/050928_gwf.pdf