Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia

Background: Climate change is expected to bring increases in average global temperatures (1.4°C–5.8°C [34.52°F–42.44°F] by 2100) and precipitation levels to varying degrees around the globe. The availability and quality of water will be severely affected, and public health threats from the lack of t...

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Autores principales:	Erica DeNicola, Omar S. Aburizaiza, Azhar Siddique, Haider Khwaja, David O. Carpenter
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Ubiquity Press 2015
Materias:	climate change public health Saudi Arabia water reuse water scarcity Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/dc36840075c849e7a856bd7196e1660d
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:dc36840075c849e7a856bd7196e1660d2021-12-02T11:33:14ZClimate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia2214-999610.1016/j.aogh.2015.08.005https://doaj.org/article/dc36840075c849e7a856bd7196e1660d2015-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/1507https://doaj.org/toc/2214-9996Background: Climate change is expected to bring increases in average global temperatures (1.4°C–5.8°C [34.52°F–42.44°F] by 2100) and precipitation levels to varying degrees around the globe. The availability and quality of water will be severely affected, and public health threats from the lack of this valuable resource will be great unless water-scarce nations are able to adapt. Saudi Arabia provides a good example of how the climate and unsustainable human activity go hand in hand in creating stress on and depleting water resources, and an example for adaptation and mitigation. Method: A search of the English literature addressing climate change, water scarcity, human health, and related topics was conducted using online resources and databases accessed through the University at Albany, State University of New York library web page. Results: Water scarcity, which encompasses both water availability and water quality, is an important indicator of health. Beyond drinking, water supply is intimately linked to food security, sanitation, and hygiene, which are primary contributors to the global burden of disease. Poor and disadvantaged populations are the ones who will suffer most from the negative effects of climate change on water supply and associated human health issues. Examples of adaptation and mitigation measures that can help reduce the strain on conventional water resources (surface waters and fossil aquifers or groundwater) include desalination, wastewater recycling and reuse, and outsourcing food items or “virtual water trade.” These are strategies being used by Saudi Arabia, a country that is water poor primarily due to decades of irresponsible irrigation practices. The human and environmental health risks associated with these adaptation measures are examined. Finally, strategies to protect human health through international collaboration and the importance of these efforts are discussed. Conclusion: International, multidisciplinary cooperation and collaboration will be needed to promote global water security and to protect human health, particularly in low-income countries that do not have the resources necessary to adapt on their own.Erica DeNicolaOmar S. AburizaizaAzhar SiddiqueAzhar SiddiqueHaider KhwajaDavid O. CarpenterUbiquity Pressarticleclimate changepublic healthSaudi Arabiawater reusewater scarcityInfectious and parasitic diseasesRC109-216Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENAnnals of Global Health, Vol 81, Iss 3, Pp 342-353 (2015)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	climate change public health Saudi Arabia water reuse water scarcity Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	climate change public health Saudi Arabia water reuse water scarcity Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Erica DeNicola Omar S. Aburizaiza Azhar Siddique Azhar Siddique Haider Khwaja David O. Carpenter Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
description	Background: Climate change is expected to bring increases in average global temperatures (1.4°C–5.8°C [34.52°F–42.44°F] by 2100) and precipitation levels to varying degrees around the globe. The availability and quality of water will be severely affected, and public health threats from the lack of this valuable resource will be great unless water-scarce nations are able to adapt. Saudi Arabia provides a good example of how the climate and unsustainable human activity go hand in hand in creating stress on and depleting water resources, and an example for adaptation and mitigation. Method: A search of the English literature addressing climate change, water scarcity, human health, and related topics was conducted using online resources and databases accessed through the University at Albany, State University of New York library web page. Results: Water scarcity, which encompasses both water availability and water quality, is an important indicator of health. Beyond drinking, water supply is intimately linked to food security, sanitation, and hygiene, which are primary contributors to the global burden of disease. Poor and disadvantaged populations are the ones who will suffer most from the negative effects of climate change on water supply and associated human health issues. Examples of adaptation and mitigation measures that can help reduce the strain on conventional water resources (surface waters and fossil aquifers or groundwater) include desalination, wastewater recycling and reuse, and outsourcing food items or “virtual water trade.” These are strategies being used by Saudi Arabia, a country that is water poor primarily due to decades of irresponsible irrigation practices. The human and environmental health risks associated with these adaptation measures are examined. Finally, strategies to protect human health through international collaboration and the importance of these efforts are discussed. Conclusion: International, multidisciplinary cooperation and collaboration will be needed to promote global water security and to protect human health, particularly in low-income countries that do not have the resources necessary to adapt on their own.
format	article
author	Erica DeNicola Omar S. Aburizaiza Azhar Siddique Azhar Siddique Haider Khwaja David O. Carpenter
author_facet	Erica DeNicola Omar S. Aburizaiza Azhar Siddique Azhar Siddique Haider Khwaja David O. Carpenter
author_sort	Erica DeNicola
title	Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
title_short	Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
title_full	Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr	Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed	Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia
title_sort	climate change and water scarcity: the case of saudi arabia
publisher	Ubiquity Press
publishDate	2015
url	https://doaj.org/article/dc36840075c849e7a856bd7196e1660d
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Climate Change and Water Scarcity: The Case of Saudi Arabia

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