Pattaya, Thailand: Attendees at a conference to discuss climate change in the eastern Thai city of Pattaya has heard that one of the major challenges facing the world in the midst of global warming and increased levels of environmental degradation was the supply of potable drinking water to its people.Pattaya, Thailand: Attendees at a conference to discuss climate change in the eastern Thai city of Pattaya has heard that one of the major challenges facing the world in the midst of global warming and increased levels of environmental degradation was the supply of potable drinking water to its people.
Speaking at the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D Program's annual conference entitled " Climate change and its impact" at Pattaya, Professor Ramesh Kanwar of Iowa State University's department of agriculture and biosystems engineering told delegates of the tremendous challenges facing parts of Asia to provide safe, clean water for its citizens.
Thailand's The Nation newspaper reported Professor Kanwar saying that, out of a global population of 6.5 billion, one billion lack access to an adequate water supply and 2.5 billion do not have proper sanitation -- a factor in the deaths of several thousand children per day through waterborne diseases such as diarrhea.
" The major question for scientists and the academic community is what needs to be done to reverse these trends and bring water security to all living things - humans, animals and plants. What research, training, policy and economic needs are required to bring water security for all living species on this planet?" he asked.
Prof Kanwar said reining in the use of pesticides and fertilisers used by agriculture, which had contaminated rivers and groundwater in the region, was a necessary first move for many of Asia's developing countries.
"Poor environmental practices and lack of desire to implement local environmental regulations are the main causes of this dilemma," he said.
He added that the study of prevention of water borne diseases should be a key focus of major research efforts this century.
"If we do not increase research efforts in this area, society is likely to face many unknown waterborne diseases, especially from the migration from water or food to humans," he said. "This will require international collaboration and partnerships between leading global institutions to solve complex issues in research and education."
Prof Kanwar said that education should also be revised and restructured where necessary masters and doctoral degree levels to include more advanced courses covering water quality, management, environmental degradation and resolving international water conflicts.
[Above image: Flag of Thailand]
Published in OOSKAnews Water Weekly: Southern and Eastern Asia.
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