Is Population Growth to Blame for Water Scarcity?
Today, it’s common knowledge that climate change is producing higher rates of freshwater scarcity around the globe. While the evidence in favor of the relationship between a warming climate and a dwindling water supply continues to mount, there is another lurking factor that could be leading us straight into the teeth of a water crisis: population growth. In fact, recent evidence suggests that our current global rate of population expansion could very well be the primary driver of water scarcity around the world.
The good news is that the risk of an impending global water crisis can be ameliorated by securing a farm loan. Before we get to that, though, let’s take a closer look at the relationship between a booming global population and a rapidly diminishing supply of freshwater.
Population growth and the looming global water crisis – what’s the connection?
As a phenomenon, climate change is fickle – and very complicated. It’s impact on our global supply of freshwater is difficult to forecast and appears to fluctuate from season to season and from year to year. As temperatures get warmer across the globe, precipitation and evaporation trends are rapidly changing, resulting in a range of changes to local supplies of freshwater which in turn vary widely between geographical regions.
Population growth, on the other hand, has a much more straightforward and detectable relationship to water scarcity. Simply put, larger populations of people depend on greater supplies of water. For drinking, certainly, but also for activities of daily living like bathing, growing food, cleaning produce, and raising livestock. People living in developing countries, in particular, tend to raise larger families (for a variety of reasons), which in turn creates a positive feedback loop of increased demand on the water supply fueled by accelerated population growth.
What does the future hold?
The effort to understand climate change and its root causes is still in its infancy, with new research methods being developed nearly every day. As such, our understanding of the determining factors that are driving climate change could certainly fundamentally change in the near future. It could turn out, for example, that warming temperatures are playing a far greater role in the dwindling of our water supply than was previously supposed, and that population growth is merely a secondary factor.
As things currently stand, however, it’s recommended that farmers and agriculturalists take action now to protect their investments – and their way of life. A global water crisis, though it may feel like only a remote and unlikely possibility, could rapidly become a reality and have serious consequences for those who are unprepared.
One of the best strategies you can employ to protect yourself and your farm from an impending water crisis is to secure your financial future with an agriculture lending program. In addition to promoting water conservation for your property, a farm loan can provide you with additional sources of funding to keep your supply of freshwater flowing.
To learn more about what you can do to reduce water usage on your farm, check out this article.
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With nearly a decade of experience, MSF Agriculture is your trusted source for securing a farm loan that will be the right fit for your home, work, and lifestyle. To get started finding a loan today, contact our office.