 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
. |
World Bank urges China to raise water prices to counter crisis
Beijing (AFP) Jan 12, 2009 The World Bank urged China Monday to raise water prices to encourage people to use less water and to promote efficiency in a bid to prevent a "severe water scarcity crisis." "To provide appropriate incentives for the adoption of water saving technologies and behaviours, water prices need to be allowed to rise to reflect its full scarcity value," the bank said in a report published Monday. It said that water shortages, pollution and flooding had for years constrained growth and affected public health and welfare in many parts of China, which it claimed would soon join the group of "water stressed" nations. "The combined pressures of rising water demand over limited supplies and deteriorating water quality from widespread pollution suggests that a severe water scarcity crisis is emerging, the report said. The World Bank said the social impact of water price increases, especially those affecting the poor, would need to be addressed by establishing social protection measures. Experts have repeatedly warned of a water crisis in China, particularly in the north of the country and in its capital, Beijing. Probe International, a leading development policy group, said in June that the crisis was so severe in Beijing that the city faced economic collapse and the need to resettle part of its population in coming decades. According to the group, water prices in Beijing in June were 0.54 dollars a cubic metre, compared with between 0.65 and 0.80 dollars in Brazil, and between 2.2 and 2.7 dollars in England and Wales. The World Bank report -- Addressing China's Water Scarcity: Recommendations for Selected Water Resource Management Issues -- also urged China to strengthen water pollution control enforcement and emergency preparedness. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Water News - Science, Technology and Politics
Mexico City launches emergency water plan
Mexico City (AFP) Jan 7, 2009Mexico City authorities launched a five-month emergency plan to ration water in response to a record drop in water supplies, the national water commission said Wednesday. |
. |
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook