On Sunday, the New York Times Alexei Barrioneuvo wrote about the disastrous water wars in Chile. The article highlighted the dangers of privatizing something that should remain in the public commons, but also described the direct link between water policy and agriculture. In fact, three of the major global challenges we faced today - the water, climate and food crises - are deeply connected.
In a new paper released today, IATP's Shiney Varghese writes about how we must find mutually reinforcing solutions to all three crises. Specifically, she calls for a shift away from chemically-intensive, industrialized agriculture toward more low-input, sustainable practices. Industrial agriculture has increased greenhouse gas emissions, water use and degradation and global hunger. The paper outlines the effects industrial agriculture has had in driving irrigated agriculture, massive water infrastructure projects and water withdrawals.
"We can no longer afford to tackle these crises separately," Shiney says in our press release. "We must take a comprehensive approach that supports sustainable practices in agriculture that are good for people and the planet, protect our water resources and provide enough food for everyone."
Shiney is at the World Water Forum this week in Istanbul, Turkey. This odd global meeting, organized by the World Water Council, supported largely by the World Bank and private industry, has no official United Nations or international authority, and essentially acts as a quasi trade show for big water projects. But it is also an opportunity for civil society groups to raise awareness about the major water challenges the world faces and the need to ensure that water remain part of the public commons, not private gain.
In her paper, Shiney outlines a series of specific recommendations for governments ready to protect water for ecosystems and people. She'll discuss those recommendations as part of two important panels at the World Water Forum about the connection between water, agriculture and climate.
