解决水危机与实现净零碳排放、减少气候变化影响一样，对世界至关重要。
这是根据英国标准协会( BSI )与Waterwise一起发布的一份报告，以标记世界水周( 8月20日至24日)。
这项研究包括对世界各国缺水困难经验的分析，揭示了向循环水系统过渡的紧迫性。
事实上，这包括它与实现净零的全球运动一样重要，而这正是大多数国家正在努力实现的目标。
水挑战的规模是什么?
要充分认识到解决水资源短缺问题的重要性，就必须了解许多国家面临挑战的程度。
在过去的100年中，全世界每年的用水量增加了3.5万亿立方米。同时，地球上只有0.5 %的水是淡水。
据联合国统计，每年有20亿人无法获得安全的饮用水，全球一半的人口在某一时间点面临严重的水资源短缺问题。
此外，由于冰川和积雪中的水正在融化，世界上六分之一的生活在主要山脉的人将更难获得淡水。
与水有关的气候变化的影响，如洪水和海平面上升，也意味着人类的淡水资源越来越少，因为淡水的质量受到了严重的影响。
由于沉积物、病原体、杀虫剂和地下水盐碱化等原因，水的污染越来越严重，饮用、洗涤或准备食物的安全性越来越差。
关于水危机，可以做些什么?
减缓气候变化的影响是防止全球水危机的一个步骤。
例如，IPCC将全球变暖限制在1.5摄氏度，而不是2摄氏度，认为这将使目前预计会受到水资源短缺影响的人口减半。
联合国环境规划署还认为，实施某些农业系统，如使用滴灌和创建湿地将有所帮助。前者可以减少对淡水供应的需求，而后者有助于吸收多余的水，并为水的储存提供良好的场所。
然而，BSI认为最好的解决方案是采用循环经济的思维模式。
BSI可持续发展卓越中心主任马丁·汤森( Martin Townsend )说："水是我们最基本、最宝贵和被低估的资源之一。
他指出，它保持了人们的健康和水分，提供了食品供应，促进了经济增长，并保持了自然的繁荣。
汤森先生评论道："但越来越清楚的是，如果不采取行动确保我们明智地使用水和有效地管理水，水的需求将继续增长，这是不可持续的。"
组织可以通过改善政府、监管机构、水行业和客户之间的合作来提高水循环。
The BSI and Waterwise report sets out a list of recommendations it believes can help resolve the water crisis.
These include:
Acknowledging the extent of the waste water problem.
It believes utility companies should take more responsibility for their waste water challenges by reducing network leakage.
Make it easier for consumers to make sustainable choices.
Many customers want to make water-saving choices, but are not aware which product is more sustainable or what water company has a greener reputation. Therefore, the report calls for more transparency for consumers, making it easier for them to make environmentally-friendly decisions.
Use more smart meters and technology.
It acknowledges that smart meters and other modern technology have the potential to save a considerable amount of water. However, they need to be promoted, and rolled out, more to encourage better use of them.
Promote water saving.
Although most people know the importance of saving electricity, they are less aware of the value of saving water.
Therefore, there need to be more campaigns explaining why people and businesses should reduce water waste and how they can do this.
Water recycling.
Water recycling and reuse should become more commonplace, whether through rainwater harvesting or reusing water within buildings.
Work together.
The BSI and Waterwise think water regulators, industry players and government officials working together will have a big impact on global water challenges.
How World Water Week aims to progress change
This year’s World Water Week’s theme was Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World.
There were six trends that particularly made an impact at the event, which could be key to driving solutions to the global water crisis.
These included the importance of coming up with ways to make transformations, instead of simply saying what the problems are.
Although many people think ‘innovative solutions’ means technology, World Water Week events showed they also include governance, values, culture, and finance. This could open people’s eyes to different ways of resolving the problem.
The role of indigenous people in protecting water sources was also discussed, with 20 different groups present at the conference to tell attendees about their experiences.
World Water Week also focused on new approaches to water governance, including the benefit of changing incentives.
Having a source-to-sea approach was also emphasised as important, as all water resources are essentially connected with one another.
Finally, it was decided that water-related events, such as World Water Week, are essential for encouraging international collaboration, detailing different processes that occur within each country, and looking at the progress nations are making.
It follows the UN 2023 Water Conference, which took place in March in New York. During this event, 6,500 participants came together to discuss different nations’ sustainable goals.
More than 700 attendees signed the Water Action Agenda, which was introduced at the conference, committing to protect water resources around the world.
Chief strategy and transformation officer at BSI Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan said: “We understand that ensuring a water-secure future could be as big an opportunity as reducing carbon emissions.”
Therefore, businesses and individuals need to make reducing water wastage and improving water recycling as much a priority as moving towards renewable energy sources and limiting plastic usage.
