The importance of global water resources in the survival of mankind

Abstract

Mankind is heading vertiginously for an imminent water crisis, a crisis that can trigger a food crisis, rampant homicides, exacerbation of existing conflicts and the emergence of new ones. Under these conditions, a brief history of the conflicts related to freshwater reserves across the planet is required, as well as information on the current situation and future trends. The problem exists, and the number of people affected by it is worrying from day to day. The quality and quantity of freshwater reserves on the map affects and will continue to affect the stability of all human communities. Water has often been a strategic factor and a topic of dispute since the dawn of history. The fresh water, vital for agriculture and the survival of any living being, was a stake for conflicts on an economic, ethnic and religious basis, but the conflicts also targeted the marine waters, in the context of establishing territorial waters held by states with access to seas and oceans. Unfortunately, it is not always a resource at our fingertips, especially under the pressure of global warming and rampant population growth.