WEF2008.2.3 Water is Running Out
January 24, 2008 by Chris | permalink
Ban KI-MOON - UN
Andrew Liveris - Dow Chemical
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe - Nestle
Neville Isdell - Coca-Cola
Fred Krupp - Environmental Defense
the session was opened by Ban Ki-Moon, Sect Gen of the UN. he began with a series of incidents relating water and war. essentially water shortages impede development and create conflict. climate change and water conflict will be mostly likely seen in 46 countries representing more than half of the world. water stress effects 1/3 of the US and 1/5 of Spain. the challenges of the reduction of the glaciers in the Andes is threatening millions. water stress threatens us all. no one in the world is immune to the effects of this stress. he noted that there is a new revolution in green economics.
PBL - water sustainability is now becoming an issue that is in the public eye. he notes that there is still time, but not long. he framed his understanding of the issue. this is the disparity in the world. an american eats 6000l/day, a european 4,500l/day. in South Africa, it has been established that every person has a RIGHT to 6000l/month. this is a right. to fill up a pool is not a RIGHT and should be paid for. the message is that we need to put a price on water. currently we essentially have water for free. it takes 9000l of water to make 1l of biodiesel. this is a REAL issue. he notes that you should allow.
a great example can be found in OMAN. it is a great example that is 4,500 years old. there are 3,000 individuals who has rights to water. they also must supply the mosque with water and they are required to maintain the supply system. it is the example that must be followed. there is a fair price and it is tradable.
AL - in 2005 Dow decided that corporate responsibility is important. he quoted a long list of actions that proved how good they are.
NI - he started with the acknowledgment that water is not yet on the global public agenda. last year there was only one session. now there are five. but still, it is not enough. the nexus between climate change and water needs to be recognized. Coke states that they will be Water Neutral in the future. they realize that they must ensure that they achieve this soon. if there is no water, they have no business. there is a triangle between water-food-climate change. this is an extremely complex issue. sadly, it seems that only simple solutions are being looked for. he observes a new coalition that is developing between the NGOs and businesses. water is not yet a crisis, and we need to engage before it becomes a crisis. Agriculture uses 70% of all water.
FK - the Romans had access to water and sanitation 2000 years ago that half the world's population do not have access to today. most of the issues are solvable. in the Sierra Nevada's rivers only flow at 5% of their natural flow. the Rio Grande is dry when it gets to Mexico. the reservoirs of Colorado are half-full. Lake Superior is down about 2.5 feet. the essential message is that we must all become more efficient in the way we use water. there must be caps placed on the use of water. he reinforced the market price mechanism for industrial users of water. we need to focus on human, eco-system and climate change all at the same time.
