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Few  security  risks  are  becoming  as  serious  and  far-reaching  as  those  that  fall  under  the  heading  of  “ecological  overshoot”,  i.e.,  the  idea  that  humans  are  stretching  the  planet’s  resources  to  the  breaking  point  and  even  beyond. The  growing  scarcity  of  fresh  water  on  a  rapidly  changing planet is an important example of this phenomenon. An insecure supply of clean water raises the dangers of economic disruption, social tension, and even conflict over water resources at both the domestic and international levels. These dangers are highest where water is scarce and governance (at the domestic or international levels) is poor.


This  paper  examines  water  security  risk  in  Asia,  where  water  challenges  affect  several  of  the  world’s  most  populous  and  powerful states, and many smaller  ones  as  well.  The  continent’s  enormous  size,  its  multiple  geopolitical  tensions,  the  unprecedented  and  urban-centric  speed  of  growth  in  the  world’s  largest  economies, and poor water governance  at  both  the  domestic  and   international   levels   mean   that  Asia  is  home  to  the  world’s  greatest water security risks.

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Related Experts: Peter Engelke