February 01, 2005
Water Insecurity
Late last year, Alan AtKisson, one of my co-contributors at WorldChanging, posted an essay on his own site that asked, "What is the biggest sustainability problem in the world?"
Not climate instability, poverty, mass extinction, or war. Apparently the answer is water:
A group called GlobeScan operating out of Canada recently surveyed (by email) an international sample of "sustainability experts," with assistance from the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Over 90% of respondents identified issues around fresh water planning and supply as "very important," with renewable energy and poverty next on the list. Concern about water had risen twelve points in two years in this group's survey...
It came to mind a couple weeks ago, when I saw this sign outside a coffee shop in Midtown East. Wonder how long it will be before more restaurants and cafes feel the need to market how safe and clean their water is?
