In 2003 he was awarded a macarthur fellowship for his work on water resources. For nearly two decades, the pacific institute has been tracking, analyzing, and cataloging instances of conflict over water resources see box wb 3. Feb 05, 2009 the concept of peak water is very analogous to peak oil. This water conflict chronology has been continuously updated since then, and i publish a version in each volume of our biennial water book. One of the institutes major contributions continues to be the highly regarded water and conflict chronology, which traces the history of water as a tool of war and conflict, explores the nature of those conflicts, and provides citations and data in an. There are environmental refugees as a result of the lack of clean water. A new tool for figuring out our home water and energy and greenhouse gas footprint. If, as gleick asserts, tap water is often as tasty and clean, and maybe tastier and cleaner, than bottled water, then it is not the failure of the 19th and 20thcentury systems that deliver water to the public that is the problem the second water age, it is the disjunction between fact and perception that is distorting water policy. Igor shiklomanovs chapter world fresh water resources in peter h.
A guide to the worlds fresh water resources oxford university press, new york. The quality and availability of fresh water are of critical importance to human and ecosystem health. Aug 23, 2016 in 1987, california was at the beginning of what would be a sixyear drought the second driest in the states history. Gleick, 9781610914826, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Introduction to water conflicts water is a finite resource and its management is important. Peter gleick reports on a looming water crisis a macarthur fellow and cofounder of the pacific institute, peter gleick runs one of the nations leading. Ashok swain is associate professor in the department of peace and conflict research at uppsala university, sweden, and serves as director of the uppsala university programme of international studies and coordinator of the southeast asian programme. The soft path seeks to improve the overall productivity of water use and deliver water services matched to the needs of end users, rather than seeking sources of new supply.
Gleick mentions that many of the areas with conflict today are the same areas that have. A guide to worlds freshwater resources, oxford university press, new york, 24. Hydrologists, engineers, policy makers, professionals in the environmental sciences, as well as lay readers will find water in crisis a dynamic resource and informationpacked reference. Mar 09, 2015 author peter gleick discusses how water has been causing conflicts between people for thousands of years.
Jul 25, 2002 the soft path seeks to improve the overall productivity of water use and deliver water services matched to the needs of end users, rather than seeking sources of new supply. Peter gleick is president of the pacific institute. But gleick asserts that in the same way certain countries have been contending with peak oil concerns in recent years, they may soon also have to deal with peak water as well. The nature of entries in the chronology can be described and categorized in different ways. We hope youll enjoy the reporting and analysis that was produced by our dedicated community of editors and contributors. Gleick, the worlds water 19981999, island press, washington, d.
Not all water resources disputes will lead to violent conflict. Water briefs provide concise updates on topics including the deadsea and the role of water in the syrian conflict. Nov 27, 2007 peter gleick reports on a looming water crisis a macarthur fellow and cofounder of the pacific institute, peter gleick runs one of the nations leading water conservation assessment centers. Peter gleick is a worldrenowned expert, innovator, and communicator on water. That is, were pumping groundwater faster than nature naturally recharges it, says peter gleick in. However, water scarcity not only brings conflict to these regions, but also plays its part in building cooperation. Peter gleick is a worldrenowned expert, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. Peter gleick on the history of water conflicts youtube. Scientist who lied to obtain heartland documents faces fight. Tools add to favorites email track citations download citation buy ebook. The syrian conflict and the role of water springerlink. The concept of peak water is very analogous to peak oil. Access to water and the control of water systems have been causes of conflict, weapons used during conflicts, and targets of conflict, but there are also growing risks of violence over the role that water plays in development disputes and economic activities.
When the water belongs to an international river system, these measures lead to riparian conflicts. For those interested in the history of water conflicts, a 5000year long chronology can be found at. Among the most compelling environmental issues of today and tomorrow are those concerning the worlds fresh water resources. Jan 06, 2011 peter gleick on peak water january 6, 2011 by wilson center staff the purpose of the whole debate about peak water is to help raise awareness about the nature of the worlds water problems and to help drive toward solutions, says the pacific institutes peter gleick. Water is likely to cause the most conflict in areas where new demands for energy and food production will compete with the water required for basic domestic needs of a rapidly growing. It is a comprehensive guide to the worlds freshwater resources, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, the use of water for energy and food production, the quality of rivers, lakes, and inland seas, and the condition of freshwater fisheries and natural aquatic ecosystems. Famiglietti professor and executive director, global institute for water security, university of saskatchewan verified email at usask.
Twenty five years ago in the united states, each american probably drank a gallon of bottled water a year, on average. Peter gleick is a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on global water and climate issues. Gleick and matthew heberger violence over freshwater has a long and distressing history. Water brief 3 water and conflict events, trends, and analysis 20112012 peter h. Readers can order a discounted copy today and join in a discussion with. Great works on urban water resources 19622001 books. Author peter gleick discusses how water has been causing conflicts between people for thousands of years. The story behind our obsession with bottled water peter h. Oct 06, 2014 water is likely to cause the most conflict in areas where new demands for energy and food production will compete with the water required for basic domestic needs of a rapidly growing. The worldwater website, developed by peter gleick, is dedicated to providing uptodate water resources information and data, with connections to organizations, institutions, and individuals working on a wide range of global freshwater problems and solutions. In 1987, california was at the beginning of what would be a sixyear drought the second driest in the states history. Peter gleick is a scientist, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. How that water is used by, or diverted from, those people is the story of the great lakes water wars. Peter developed one of the first analyses of climate change impacts on water resources, the earliest comprehensive work on water and continue reading dr.
Events, trends, and analysis 2011 2012 159 peter h. Peter gleick is renowned the world over as a leading expert, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues. Countries are meeting increasing water demand by building reservoirs and by diverting water from one area to another. Gleicks important new volume, water in crisis, addresses the timely and sometimes controversial aspects of world water use. The purpose of the whole debate about peak water is to help raise awareness about the nature of the worlds water problems and to help drive toward solutions, says the pacific institutes peter gleick. But in certain regions of the world, such as the middle east and southern and central asia, water is a scarce resource that has become in. It is a comprehensive guide to the worlds fresh water resources, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, the use of water for energy and food production, the quality of rivers, lakes, and inland seas, and the condition of fresh water fisheries and natural aquatic ecosystems. Among the issues he has addressed are conflicts over water resources, water and climate change, development, and. He cofounded the pacific institute in oakland, one of the most innovative, independent nongovernmental organizations addressing the connections between the environment and global sustainability.
Given its central role in the functioning of all living systems, water is arguably the most important of all natural resources. At stake are water quality, quantity, and possible future conflicts over shared international water resources. Produced biennially, the worlds water is the most comprehensive and uptoto date source of information. Water and conflict the new water conflict chronology in an ongoing effort to understand the connections between water resources, water systems, and international security and conflict, the pacific institute initiated a project in the late 1980s to track and categorize events related to water and conflict. Aug 04, 2009 for those interested in the history of water conflicts, a 5000year long chronology can be found at. Bottled water is just one aspect of the global water issues peter gleick addresses as one of the experts featured in the new documentary last call at the oasis from participant media, producers of the groundbreaking documentaries an inconvenient truth and food, inc.
Produced biennially, the worlds water provides a comprehensive examination of issues surrounding freshwater resources and their use. Nov 15, 2011 this month, bookhugger presents bottled and sold. Gleick and matthew heberger four water conflict chronology 173 peter h. Gleick, an alumnus of yale university, was deputy assistant for energy and environment to edmund g. Peter gleick is president of the pacific institute for studies in development, environment, and security in oakland, california. Gleick fresh water resources and international security fresh water is a fundamental resource, integral to all ecological and societal activities, including food and energy production, transportation, waste disposal, industrial development, and human health. Climate change will only excavate this situation and the access to water varies. Fresh water resources and international security peter h gleick on.
Peter gleick with more reasons to stop drinking bottled water. Existing human rights laws, covenants, and declarations there is an extensive body of covenants and international agreements formally. Put water at the center of your administrations strategic agenda. Water brief one the syrian conflict and the role of water 147 peter h. He cofounded and leads the pacific institute in oakland, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012 as one of the most innovative, independent nongovernmental organizations in the fields of water and economic and environmental justice and sustainability. This comment letter conveys summary comments and suggestions on the draft water resilience portfolio released by california state agencies, drawing on the considerable experience pacific institute has around themes of water efficiency, stormwater management, and the salton sea. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. Peter gleick wed to nicki norman the new york times. His research area includes works on environmental conflicts and cooperation, global water issues and democratic development. Gleick fresh water resources and international security fresh water is a fundamental resource, integral to all ecological and societal activities, including food and energy production, transportation, waste disposal, industrial development, and. Gleick two the red seadead sea project update 153 kristina donnelly three water and conflict.
He works at the pacific institute in oakland, california, which he co. In 1987 he cofounded the pacific institute, which he led as president until mid2016, when he became president emeritus. Fittingly, that same year peter gleick helped to cofound the pacific institute, a global think tank that would become a leader in global environmental and california water issues. Water has been both a source of conflict and a weapon used in conflicts, and. Gleick writes, and every second of every day in the united states a thousand plastic bottles are thrown away. Classification, characterization and comparison of aquatic ecosystems in the landscape of adilabad district, telangana, deccan region, india. He works at the pacific institute in oakland, california, which he cofounded in 1987. Gleick, founder of cas pacific institute, is a brilliant and devoted scientist who has dedicated his life to the study of water. Fittingly, that same year peter gleick helped to cofound the pacific institute, a global think tank that would become a leader in global environmental and california water issues in 1987, gleick had just finished a doctorate from the university of california, berkeley. Gleicks blog posts are provided in cooperation with the sfgate. Among the issues he has addressed are conflicts over water resources. Bookbrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Gleick s work has redefined water from the realm of engineers to the world of.