Each day, one of every two people on the planet quenches his thirst with water that originates in mountains. And as the world population swells to an estimated 9.6 billion by 2050, the worldwide demand for freshwater will continue to soar.
More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life. The ten largest rivers originating in the Hindu Kush Himalayas alone supply water to over 1.35 billion people. Some of the world’s largest cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Tokyo and Melbourne, are dependent on freshwater from mountains.
Climate change is already causing more than 600 glaciers to disappear, resulting in springs and rivers drying up. Greater frequency of extreme weather events, droughts and floods, including flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), are also expected to increase in mountains, causing imbalance between current water supply and demand.
Given the importance of mountain water resources worldwide, the careful management of mountain water resources is a global priority. Water management practices need to be adapted to different climatic zones, using locally adapted soil and water management techniques. Most importantly, watershed management must take into account the needs of all those who depend on mountain water, including those who have the greatest stake in preserving healthy mountain ecosystems – people who live in mountain areas themselves, who are often marginalized from the decision-making processes.
![]() EEA Report No 1/2012: Towards efficient use of water resources in EuropenewsAccording to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), Europe needs to redouble efforts in using water more efficiently to avoid undermining its economy. The report highlights how inefficiently using water impacts hard on the resources needed by ecosystems and people, both vital assets for European productivity and... Read more » |
![]() USD 100,000 Patel Grand Challenge: deadline extended to 25 May 2012newsThe USF Patel School of Global Sustainability launched the Patel Grand Challenge at the International Water Association's Development Congress in Malaysia in November 2011. It is a challenge to inventors in developing nations to create a low-cost and easy-to-use water purification device that could save millions from the threats of... Read more » |
![]() Fourth IDSAsr Seminar: The Water Energy and Food SecuritynewsThe fourth seminar of Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies Society (IDSAsr), will be held from 2 to 4 November 2012, at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. Recognizing a clear need for new approaches addressing the inter-connections within the water, energy and food security nexus, the seminar will... Read more » |
![]() The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matternewsTogether with the Government of Nepal and ICIMOD, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has organized a side event on "The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter". The side event will take place on Monday 26 March 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, back to back with the 3rd Intersessional... Read more » |
![]() CIPRA received the Dutch sustainability awardnewsThe International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) was awarded the 2012 Sustainability Organization of the Year by the Royal Dutch Mountaineering and Climbing Club (NKVB). In an on-line ballot, Dutch mountaineers from NKVB, the biggest mountaineering club outside of the Alps, voted CIPRA. CIPRA is a non-governmental... Read more » |
![]() The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matternewsTogether with the Government of Nepal and ICIMOD, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has organized a side event on "The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter". The side event will take place on Monday 26 March 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, back to back with the... Read more » |
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