YK Poudel
Water, the world’s most valuable yet often overlooked resource, is facing a global crisis. This crisis threatens economic stability, food security, and sustainability, affecting both human health and the environment.
The Bhutan Echoes’s session titled “Future of Water – A Shared Responsibility”, attracted a large audience and focused on this pressing issue.
The discussion brought into sharp focus the importance of better water management, fair water pricing, and incentives to promote significant improvements to ensure that everyone has equitable access to clean and safe water.
Under the theme “Enlighten, Evolve, and Evoke”, the session saw participation from school students, teachers, and other attendees.
The founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute Mridula Ramesh’s works, Watershed and The Climate Solution, argue that assigning a price to water can spur innovation. “Many people in urban areas already pay for water.”
She said: “Addressing climate change and the necessary interventions requires reflecting on historical impacts.”
The discussion emphasized that awareness of climate change often comes from direct experiences, such as encountering water shortages. Mridula Ramesh said, “I did not understand climate change until we had to drill a 500-foot well at home.”
Khurshid Alam, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bhutan, noted that historically, water in the Asian region has been a precious gift from the Himalayan ranges.
He warned that one-third of these glaciers could vanish within a decade and urged immediate action: “We need to stop now.”
He explained that water influences agricultural practices, food habits, technologies, and urbanisation. Over the past decade, UNDP and the Bhutanese government have worked together on 15 projects valued at USD 85 million, focusing on three main areas: equitable water distribution, the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), and around 50 irrigation and drinking water schemes.
“For example, farmers in certain regions have been able to resume cultivation after a 20-year gap,” Khurshid Alam said.
The UN has been organising international water conferences since the 1970s. Last year’s major conference focused on roles, responsibilities, contributions of nations, water distribution, and the effects of climate change.
Modern technologies are enhancing water efficiency, with over 130 countries adopting these practices.
Bhutan’s partnership with India highlights the benefits of shared water resources for communities around river basins. Bangladesh and India also benefit from Himalayan waters.
A recent report, The High Cost of Cheap Water revealed that the annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems is estimated at US Dollar 58 trillion, equivalent to 60 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bhutan, a water-rich country, has a per capita water availability of 94,508 cubic meters. Over 90 percent of its water is used for agriculture, which employs more than 60 percent of the rural population. Since 2019, the government has invested Nu 527.21 million in a water flagship program. Additionally, nearly 99 percent of Bhutan’s electricity is generated through hydropower, a major revenue source for the country.
Globally, poor water management and the destruction of freshwater ecosystems have left billions without access to clean water and sanitation, with conditions expected to worsen by 2050. The number of people facing water shortages is rising, impacting food security.
Increased pollution is putting economic strain on efforts to reverse environmental damage and adapt to worsening climate impacts. Since 1970, one-third of wetlands and freshwater resources have been lost, leading to an average 83 percent decline in wildlife populations.