Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future -

Extreme weather due to climate change is already affecting agricultural yields and food security around the world. In 2010, wheat prices soared in response to the shrinking of Russia’s wheat harvest after a drought and the country’s subsequent ban on wheat exports.

By December 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.’s Food Price Index had surpassed its 2008 peak; 2011’s food prices were the highest ever recorded. The rising price of food is one reason why there are one billion hungry people in the world.

Interesting insight from State of the Planet…

Should Universities Ban Bottled Water?

Universities in Canada and the United States to have banned plastic bottled water include Belmont University, Oberlin College, Seattle University, University of Ottawa, University of Portland, University of Wisconsin (Stevens Point), Upstate Medical University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Others including, but not limited to, New York University and Stanford University have banned plastic bottles from their dining halls. Finally there are numerous student led efforts to ban bottled water at places such as Brown University, Cornell University, and Pennsylvania State University, though these have yet to become official.

http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/02/02/should-universities-ban-bottled-water/

China’s Decade Plan for Water:

China has pledged 4 trillion yuan, roughly $600 billion, to be spent over the next decade, with the stated goals of avoiding a water shortage, with the resulting threat to economic growth, and ensuring safe drinking water. In addition, there is the recurring problem of droughts in the North and flooding in the South due to excess rain fall and the construction of numerous water transfer projects have been suggested as a way of combating this problem with one costing $60 billion targeted at bringing water to areas around Beijing. Another large project is the protection of the Three Gorges Dam, an estimated $22.5 billion would be needed fortify it from “geological disasters and pollution” since although it is heralded as a “symbol of engineering prowess”, its 600 kilometers spans geological fault lines and it would be devastating to the reservoir if an earthquake were to occur.
http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/10/24/chinas-decade-plan-for-water/

World Water Day Wrap-Up Video

Every year on March 22nd, the UN-Water partnership of 28 different UN organizations celebrates World Water Day as a way to focus public attention on key water-related issues and the need to sustainably manage freshwater resources. It was held in Rome.

One day per year is simply not enough of a spotlight for this cause.

http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/

In honor of World Water Day, last week March 22nd, the Columbia Water Center released a video and two infographics about its work.

In “Deeper than Water”, director Gabe Askew evokes the preciousness of water through a the stunning images of jewels in an unfolding box, suggesting that if we are to truly care for our most valuable resource, we must go beyond digging to find the right crops and planting methods, design more intelligent infrastructure, prioritize ecology and invest in climate science.