Why we should not take water for granted– Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball

Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball, brought to you by Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow of Friends of Europe and former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General, provides a weekly overview of the current and emerging crises or threats in security and defence.

Using his past experience as an ex-NATO insider, his in-depth knowledge and insights gained throughout the years, Jamie casts his eye on the state of geopolitics in Europe and across the globe. He brings an independent view and essential insight into a range of conflicts and emerging threats on our shores and further afield.

Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball is essential viewing for anyone who wants to keep track of events as they unfold.

This week on Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball, Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe, discusses water scarcity and water wars in light of the UN World Water Day that took place on 23 March. Climate change and natural catastrophes, an increasing world population, 30 million predicted climate refugees by 2050 fleeing from droughts and inhospitable living conditions, changes in food and energy production, water wars, and illegal privatisation and state control of sources – the way we consume and deal with water are more important than ever. Shea argues that we need to build up international cooperation on water – including data sharing and regulation -, decrease water usage in cities and increase efficiency, establish market mechanisms and that we need to understand the ecosystems that produce our water to improve their protection.