China's challenges to water resources management

Abstract

Northern China has less than half of the water per person in comparison to the absolutely water-scarce Egypt. This simple comparison helps us to understand that China is among the planet s regions, which will face greatest water- related challenges in the coming decades. Its rapid urbanization, industrialization, growing agricultural demand, environmental degradation, and potential climate-related threats are the major driving forces that challenge the management and utilization of China s water resources in the few decades to come. China s urban population is expected to exceed doubling within one generation, by 2025. In this presentation, China s water situation is put in the global perspective, in the time frame of 1970-2025. The following driving forces are under study: population growth, urbanization and other patterns of migration, changes and variations in climate, nature, and the environment, economy and its level of globalization, as well as human capital, technology and industrialization.