Plan bleu Director warns of conflict due to water shortage

Scientists have not ruled out the possibility of a future war because of water shortage and they urge national governments to implement long-term policies to avert this and secure peace.
In statements to CNA, director of the «Plan bleu» think – tank organisation Henri – Luc Thibault has said that there is a possibility to see wars and conflicts breaking out in the future for water.
Thibault, who led a seminar attended by journalists on water demand management in the light of the Zaragoza EXPO 2008 entitled “Water and sustainable development”, said:
«Yes, I think it is possible that a war breaks out for water. This war will be either between states or it will be a conflict between let’s say farmers and population,” he told CNA.
He said it was imperative for governments to start implementing policies for reasonable water management and limitation of the environmental pollution which always has an impact on water.
«When a country does not manage its water resources correctly, then it will have to buy and transport water from other countries. But I am not sure that this transport from one country to the other will be a peaceful one,” he said.
Presenting data on water, Thibault noted that agricultural water transport losses reach 20%, drinking water transport losses reach 30% and household water leaks amount to 20%.
Answering questions, he said that it is better for a country to try to fix the above problems rather than spend millions on desalination units.
«Plan bleu» is working together with the United Nations Environment Programme, carrying out research on Mediterranean environmental issues, which it later submits as recommendations to the national governments.
A recent research prepared by Plan bleu showed increasing tendencies in the Mediterranean region by 2025 as regards population, tourist flows and water demand, whereas water resources may decline.
Today, around 30 million people living in the Mediterranean are deprived of access to water, the research showed.
Thibault told CNA that on the one hand legislation exists for the reasonable water management but on the other hand it is important that it is fully implemented.
He also expressed the view that every country needs an active Minister of the Environment who will be in the position to enforce his environmental policies.