[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 151 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13206-S13207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WORLD POPULATION AND WATER SCARCITY

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, the week of October 20-25 has been 
designated as World Population Awareness Week with the theme of 
``Water: Our Most Precious Natural Resource.''
  Because the world's 6 billion people are dependent on 1 percent of 
all the water on Earth, many fear a future where water scarcity will 
undermine political growth and lead to political and social unrest. 
Over the next 20 years the world's population is projected to increase 
to 7.2 billion, yet the average water supply is expected to drop by 
one-third in that same time period. World population is expected to 
balloon to 9 billion before leveling off.
  Despite the looming future of water scarcity, consumption is 
increasing. The world's population has tripled in the past 100 years, 
but water use by humans has multiplied six times. Without a global 
commitment to sustainable water management, the world will see a large 
majority of its population living in areas where basic water 
requirements for drinking, cooking, or sanitation will be difficult or 
impossible to meet.
  Acting on the global consensus that water scarcity must be a top 
development priority, the Population Institute has decided to dedicate 
the 19th World

[[Page S13207]]

Population Awareness Week to the issue of water.
  More than 80 nations, 165 organizations, 201 mayors, and 22 Governors 
have dedicated proclamations of World Population Awareness Week to 
highlighting the critical issue of water. Illinois Governor Rod 
Blagojevich has made such a proclamation and I wish to call it to my 
colleagues' attention. I ask unanimous consent the proclamation be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Whereas, the world's population of 6.3 billion is projected 
     to rapidly continue to increase to increase to nearly 9 
     billion before finally slowing down, and
       Whereas, the population of the United States currently 
     exceeds 291 million, and it is estimated to increase to 
     nearly 600 million by the year 2100; and
       Whereas, the Population Institute, founded in 1969, is an 
     independent, educational non-profit organization, dedicated 
     to achieving a more equitable balance between the world's 
     population, environment and resources; and
       Whereas, since 1985, the Population Institute has organized 
     World Population Awareness Week to create public awareness of 
     the startling trends in population growth, the detrimental 
     effects that rapid population growth has on our planet, and 
     the urgent need for action; and
       Whereas, the theme of World Population Awareness Week 2003 
     is ``Water: Our Most Precious Resource,'' and
       Whereas, water is fundamental to sustaining life; and
       Whereas, 20 percent of the world's population currently 
     faces a water shortage, a figure expected to rise to 30 
     percent by the year 2025:
       Therefore, I, Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of 
     Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 20-25, 2003 as WORLD 
     POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK, and urge all citizens to conserve 
     water whenever and whenever they can, and further reflect on 
     ways to ensure adequate safe water supplies for future 
     generations.

  Mr. DURBIN. The week will be marked by events taking place at 
university campuses, community centers and civic institutions 
throughout the State to teach the residents of Illinois about the 
effects of a crowded planet.
  In many hot spots around the world, there is simply a shortage of 
water. Some analysts predict that a major war over water is possible 
sometime in the future. Experts often cite the Middle East as an area 
where many water disputes could derail peace efforts or lead to another 
war. But there are critical water disputes the world over, and, as 
population increases, and potable water becomes yet more scarce, 
violent disputes over water become increasingly likely.
  It is estimated that water shortages plague 20 percent of the world's 
population in at least 30 countries, and, it is estimated by 2025, as 
much as 30 percent of the world's population in 50 countries will face 
water shortages.
  Even in places where there is enough water, it often is not clean 
enough to drink. An estimated 1.2 billion around the world lack an 
adequate, safe water supply, and 2.3 billion lack adequate sanitation. 
It is estimated that as many as 5 to 7 million people die every year 
from water-related diseases, including 2.2 million children under the 
age of 5.
  Former Senator--and my friend and mentor--Paul Simon, has been a 
leader in the Senate and beyond in highlighting the need for better, 
cheaper ways to desalinate salt water. This is an area where improved 
technology has the potential to benefit millions of people and to help 
defuse brewing conflicts.
  Many nations have begun to depend on desalinated water. For example, 
a number of Middle Eastern nations have come to depend in part on 
desalination, and the city of Los Angeles obtains a significant 
percentage of its water from desalination plants. But the technology is 
still expensive and out of reach for many nations, States, and 
municipalities.
  But there are many ``low tech'' approaches that could conserve water 
in to promote the sustainable use of underground water aquifers, 
including drip irrigation or other agricultural practices that conserve 
water, water distribution systems that reduce leakage and evaporation, 
sewage systems that reduce water use, and many other solutions. Some of 
these solutions are expensive, but others require more changes in 
thinking and habits and a commitment of political determination than 
money.
  That is why I want to bring this critical problem to my colleagues 
attention today. It is not hopeless. Awareness of the issue is the 
first step to implementing solutions, small and large, to be sure our 
descendants inherit a peaceful world with an adequate and safe supply 
of our most basic necessity--water.

                          ____________________