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According to UN experts, the world is not aware of the serious consequences that climate change poses to water. It is necessary that we strengthen our protection of water resources to avoid future conflicts.

Desertification, floods, melting glaciers, droughts, cyclones and diseases due to water pollution such as cholera, are part of the impact of climate change. According to Zafar Adeel, president of the “UN-WATER” and responsible for coordinating the work related to water carrying 26 UN agencies, “The main manifestations of rising temperatures affect water. This will impact all instances of our social life, in natural systems and the environment. “

These radical changes could threaten agriculture or freshwater resources from Africa to the Middle East. “It is in this geographical area of residence of the potential conflicts Zafar Adeel added. Water shortages as occurred in Darfur, Sudan, is a factor in conflict.

However, Zafar Adeel said that water could be a subject of cooperation and collaboration, as has been demonstrated on several occasions, as when India and Pakistan worked together to manage the river Indus in spite of border disputes between two countries. The same thing happened with Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, countries that collaborated in the development of the Mekong River Commission.

“Water is a good reason to cooperate, and can be managed as a matter absolutely apolitical,” said Zafar Adeel, who is also director of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health “of the United Nations University, based in Canada.

The drought-prone regions because of climate change are between central Asia and North Africa. Until 2020, approximately 250 million people could suffer from water shortages in Africa, says a group of environmental experts from the United Nations.

According to Zafar Adeel, the water should figure prominently in discussions on food security, peace, climate change and the restoration of global economic health. “Water is a key issue in each of these issues, but is not considered as such.”

Efforts to combat climate change will put even greater pressure on water due to economic needs associated with irrigation, biofuels and hydropower.

Zafar Adeel also advanced efforts to manage water resources listing the amount of water needed for the development or production of different products, from meat to coffee. A study showed that to produce jeans were required 15,000 liters of water. The awareness by industry of the amount of water used is much needed for its conservation.

Zafar Adeel said the world should aim to halve the number of people without access to drinking water until 2015, although it will not achieve the aim of improving the sanitary conditions of the 2,800 million people without access to most basic health services.