Water Security Problems in Asia and Longer Term Implications for Australia

Abstract

This paper reports on water security issues in Asia that has long-term security implications for Australia. Asia’s water problems are severe with one in five people not having access to safe drinking water. Water security is defined as the availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies. It is a function of access to adequate quantities and acceptable quality, for human and environmental users. This analysis shows many Asian countries will face greater challenges than present from population explosion, shifts of populations from rural to urban areas, pollution of water resources and over-abstraction of groundwater. These challenges will be compounded by the effects of climate change over the next 50 years. It is then necessary to mobilise technologies, techniques, skills and research to aid security issues in Asia now. Otherwise, population growth, rapid urbanisation and climate change issues will worsen placing strong demands on water resources, thus creating water refugees, and this will affect countries close to Asia such as Australia. Reducing water’s destructive potential and increasing its productive potential is a central challenge and goal for the sake of future generations in Asia and Australia.