An age of thirsty people: Exploratory notes on future water-scarcity and water conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Signs that our planet is starting to run up against the limits of available fresh water, are evident in many parts of the world. During the previous century, demand for fresh water has grown twice as fast as human population growth - largely because of the Green Revolution in agriculture and rising living standards for many of the planet's people. At the turn of the century, a number of regions were entering a period of chronic water shortages, including much of Africa, northern China, pockets of India, Mexico, the Middle East and parts of western North America. Predictions are made that if nothing is done, two thirds of humanity will suffer from a moderate to severe lack of fresh water by the year 2025 (Sadeq 1999:18). Depending on the outcome of varying demographic scenarios, several countries are facing the difference between potentially manageable water stress and outright water-scarcity by the year 2025.