14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers in Australia argue that governments around the world should join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) initiative for creating a Global Framework for Action for governing groundwater reserves around the world.
This is very important because Earth's freshwater reserves are dwindling rapidly. In just a few short years, we could expect to see scarcities spreading across the planet, carrying with them significant economic effects, as well as the possibility of more armed conflicts over this century, PhysOrg reports.
The director of the National Center for Groundwater Research and Training (NGCR) in Australia, professor Craig Simmons, says that “groundwater governance may sound like a dry argument to some people – but it's a life-and-death issue for millions.” The situation is particularly dire for countries such as China and India, which feature massive populations.
According to official statistics, groundwater accounts for 97 percent of all freshwater on our planet. Every year, humans consume a total of 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles) of water. The three largest consumers are China, India and the United States. The western US, Mexico, the North China Plain, the Indus Basin and northwestern Sahara are already beginning to run out of groundwater.