Topic > Water Scarcity in the Anthropocene and its Influence on Human Population

Water Scarcity in the Anthropocene One of the main themes prevalent in eco-fiction is the debate over resource management. Otherwise known as climate fiction, it is a subgenre of science fiction that explores how climate change affects the Earth and its inhabitants. Numerous mediums of this subgenre have arisen since the term “anthropocene” was coined. Although the scientific community has not established a definitive point on when the Anthropocene began, the general consensus is that it began when humans began to influence the environment more than actual natural phenomena (Monastersky 145). Due to this influence, the Earth has largely been affected in a negative way. Its resources have been depleted due to human consumption. One of these important resources is water. Overall, the needs of the world's population are the basic necessities that most first world countries take for granted. The issue of water scarcity is a looming crisis that matters a lot in terms of how it will affect the human population and the rest of the world, which is why it is the main topic of many science fiction stories about climate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The problem presented during a water shortage would first affect the world's poorest populations. While there is no commonly accepted definition of water scarcity, there is no doubt that water shortages impact human populations the most across the globe. Approximately 20% of the overall world population, or approximately 1.4 billion people, do not have access to an adequate source of clean water (Department 1). Most of these people live in arid or semi-arid climates. By 2025, if the way humans use and distribute water does not change, they will face absolute water scarcity. Absolute water scarcity occurs when these regions will not have “sufficient water resources to maintain 1990 levels of per capita food production from irrigated agriculture, even at high levels of irrigation efficiency, and also to meet reasonable domestic water needs. , industrial and environmental". purpose” (Seckler 29). Standards of living and life expectancy will most likely plummet because there is not enough water to meet everyone's needs. The world's lack of water distribution has already resulted in a lack of sanitation and poor personal hygiene. This equates to the spread of diseases that kill 2.8 million people every year, three-quarters of whom are children under five. Nonetheless, the world's population tripled in the 20th century, but water use increased nearly sixfold (Rjisberman). The overall health of the human race, especially that percentage living in poverty or arid climates, will be greatly affected by water scarcity. Another aspect of water scarcity that will affect the planet, especially humans, is food price inflation. On average, ten times more water is needed to produce food than people use for domestic purposes. Meat production is more expensive; for example, to raise 1 kilogram of beef on the West Coast, it would take 13.5 m3 of water (Rjisberman). Of course, everyone's needs are different depending on their diet. The demand for water in the future “is strongly correlated with our hypotheses regarding the values ​​and lifestyles of future generations” (Rjisberman). With this in mind, if the world continues to progress.