LangeMemo30

The World Water Council (WWC) describes itself as an “international multi-stakeholder platform for a water secure world.” While over 30,000 delegates descended on Sydney and paid their €500 (€300 for those from “least developed nations) for the sixth World Water Forum in 2012, not all stakeholders were welcome. Outside the venue, protesters under the watchful eyes of anxious-looking truncheon wielding riot police carried placards proclaiming that water is a basic human right and shouted slogans condemning the commoditification of water resources. Inside the conference, the tone is considerably different. Loic Fauchon, the WWC president, declaims from the podium that a “harmonious, albeit rigorous, sharing” of global water resources is the only way out of the water crisis. He says that this is “exciting responsibility which gathers the family of water together in this formidable reunion.” This is, needless to say, not an ordinary family reunion. Each forum produces more dire warnings than the last. That year, the assembled ministers, mayors, governors, parliamentarians hailing from 180 countries heard scientist predict that by 2030 2.9 billion people will face “water insecurity.” As frightening as this number seems, the assembled policy makers are even more baffled by what they hear when the session is over. The 2.9 billion figure is based purely on demographic estimates. The possible effects of global warming and concomitant climate changes hasn’t been factored in, in fact, they learn, the modeling necessary to make such predictions doesn’t exist.