This second age of water is what you define as our current age. And this has been defined by advances of in engineering that have essentially re-plumbed the entire planet. It's brought along unintended consequences, pollution, ecological disruption, conflict, climate change and then a term that you use water poverty. So water poverty is simply the failure today to provide everyone on the planet with safe water and sanitation.
No elemental force has done more to shape life on this planet than water, from originating the earliest forms of life, to sculpting our landscapes, to determining patterns of human civilization. Humans have tried to control water for thousands of years, and access to this precious resource has caused conflict and also unlikely partnerships. In an era defined by climate disruption, the control, access, and quality of water will continue to determine our ability to survive and thrive. How can we ensure a future where clean water exists for all who need it – including the ecosystems we depend on – and navigate the challenges of too little or too much?
Guests:
Peter Gleick, co-founder, The Pacific Institute; author, “The Three Ages of Water”
Contributor: Luke Runyon, Managing Editor & Reporter, Colorado River Basin, KUNC Radio
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
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