Water, water, nowhere, and not a drop to drink — unless we make big changes.
That’s the theme of a next World Speaker Series event at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU)Richmond campus, when Dr. Ross Pink will speak.
Recently back from a lecture tour in Asia on water rights and climate change, Pink, Kwantlen’s political science instructor, has, according to the university, some “urgent information to share” about the paramount human rights challenge of the 21st century: access to clean water.
“Already, 800 million global citizens have no clean water source,” said Pink.
“By 2050, that number will reach two billion.”
Pink is the guest speaker at the next instalment of the popular KPU-Science World Speaker Series on Sept. 15 at KPU Richmond.
His topic, Water Rights and Scarcity: A 21st Century Challenge, will explore the issues of climate change, drought, flooding and water-borne disease.
Pink will highlight these issues as they face Asia and India with examples and innovative scenarios for change.
“These issues are urgent in those regions and will become so in North America,” said Pink.
Pink notes that Arctic ice is expected to disappear by 2070.
In addition, major flooding is anticipated in coastal cities, such as Richmond, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Manila by, 2050.
Meanwhile, chronic and increasing drought will send food prices skyrocketing and render food insecurity for more than 1.5 billion people.
Of the 9.4 billion people who are expected by 2050, approximately two billion will be without access to clean, safe water sources, leading to political upheaval, severe social and economic crises, and a projected global climate refugee population of 400 million.
But there is hope, said Pink. His presentation will also cover potential solutions to the impending water shortage; namely, rainwater harvesting, desalinization and cloud seeding.
Water Rights and Scarcity: A 21st Century Challenge takes place on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at KPU Richmond, 8771 Lansdowne Rd.
The event is free but registration is requested. Visit KPU.ca/ScienceWorld to register.
