Topic: Water Crisis
Country: China
I.
Background Information
China is facing a water crisis that includes water shortages, water pollution and degradation in water quality. 400
out of 600 cities in China are facing water shortages to varying degrees. In the north, due to the drying up of the
surface water, the underground water has been over-extracted. Though the south has abundant water, there is a
lack of clean water due to serious water pollution.
II.
Historical Events
In China, There are countless large-scale multi-purpose water projects are launched to tackle the water problem.
For instance, Three Gorges Dam on Chang Jiang not only serves as an important future source of energy for
China’s growing electrical consumption, but also improves navigation from Yichang to Chongqing.
III.
Sources of water and water supply
China obtains its water mainly from its two rivers: Huang He and Chang Jiang. It also gets its water from lakes
and reservoirs. However, owing to the growing population and scarce water resources, about 13% of urban
water users receive insufficient water. Furthermore, 60% of China's 661 cities face seasonal water shortage, and
over 100 cities have severe water constraints.
IV.
Major water uses
1. Domestic water uses
China’s population is currently 1.3 billion people making it the most populous in the world. The increase in
domestic water use is positively correlated to the level of income and the rate of urbanization; high income,
urban dwelling, people tend to lead more water intensive lives.
2. Agricultural use
Within the agricultural sector water is used for farmland irrigation, forestry, breeding livestock and maintaining
fisheries. Currently 67% of China's water is used for agriculture.
3. Industrial Use
Industrial demand for water already makes up 22% of China’s total demand. The major industrial water
consumers are metallurgy, timber processing, paper and pulp, petroleum and chemical industries.
IV.
Foresee future water needs
There is no doubt that industrial development and farming work in China has already drained too much water
resource, not to mention the fact that growing population also lead to water shortage. In the future, the demand
for water will definitely have an enormous increase because of booming economy and industrialization.
V.
Stance
Striving to promote both internal and global sustainable development, there is a principle that China would stick
very strongly to, that is China is of its full support to cooperate with other countries, as long as the problem of
itself remains to be a prior consideration at all circumstances. However, this priority would not be accomplished
at the expense of other countries. In other words, China would coordinate with other countries to work out an
overall solution.
All in all, international co-operation with true will to share and overcome problems can pave the way for success.
Careful and comprehensive planning as well as implementation must be done so as to alleviate the Water Crisis
such as close monitoring and river basin management.