Water and the Future of Humanity: Revisiting Water Security

This unique book enlightens readers on changes needed in the way water, food, energy and other goods and services are provided, accessed, and used. Written by an unparalleled slate of experts convened by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Water and the Future of Humanity addresses, arguably, the most critical issue on the planet today.

In a frank assessment of major developmental challenges, but also opportunities, facing future generations, the authors scrutinize linkages among the environment, energy, food, socioeconomic inequities, and other drivers and their relations to water from multiple perspectives. The Gulbenkian Think Tank on Water and the Future of Humanity achieve a highly readable narrative describing water access challenges facing the poor, common misuse of water in industry, agriculture, and municipalities; and offer projections and recommendations quantified with robust simulation models.

Ultimately portraying the belief that Humanity can harness its visionary abilities, technologies, and economic resources for increased wellbeing and sound stewardship of resources, the book presents an optimistic statement stressing actions scientists, policy makers, and consumers can and must take to meet the water management challenges of a warming planet anticipating nine billion inhabitants by 2050.