Peak water in an era of climate change

ABSTRACT

Humanity faces a wide range of freshwater challenges and threats, from the failure to provide safe water and sanitation to all, to ecological disruptions and degradation, increasing violence over water resources, accelerating climate change, and failing institutions and infrastructure. In recent years, crises around minerals, energy, food, and water have stimulated new debates over definitions and concepts of sustainability—including whether the world is reaching a point where natural resource limits will constrain growing populations and economic expansion. Understanding the concept of “peak water” and the strategies that might be available to avoid these constraints is key to moving toward a more efficient and sustainable water future.

KEYWORDS:

• Water use
• climate change
• peak water
• water poverty
• water security

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Peter H. Gleick

Peter H. Gleick is a climate and water scientist, author of the new book The Three Ages of Water (PublicAffairs/Hachette), and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences.