1122. The Hydrological Cycle as a Global Common Good

The world is facing an increasing frequency of water-related disasters such as floods and droughts, and it can be said that this is the first time in human history that such an imbalance in the water cycle has occurred. In order to achieve a fair and sustainable future for all, it is imperative to restore the stability of the water cycle.

The Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) emphasized the importance of recognizing the hydrological cycle as a global common good.

Fundamentally transforming both water use and supply requires a shift from siloed sectoral thinking to an economy-wide approach to the entire water cycle, including both blue and green water. The GCEW proposes five missions for a safe and equitable water future: (1) a new revolution in the food system, (2) the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems necessary to maintain green water, (3) the creation of a circular economy, (4) the promotion of clean energy and the use of AI to mitigate intensive water use, and (5) the eradication of infant deaths caused by unsafe water by 2030. Mission (1) is summarized below.

The Green Revolution, which occurred more than half a century ago, significantly increased agricultural yields and lifted many people out of poverty. We now need a major transformation in agriculture to rebuild agriculture that relies on large amounts of water and nitrogen fertilizer and to to improve farmers' incomes and provide nutritious food for all, while maintaining the health of the planet. To do this, we need to achieve radical progress in water productivity by maximizing yield per drop of water and enhancing soil moisture retention.

This will require greater access to small-scale irrigation technologies for traditional farmers and the introduction of climate-resilient varieties and cropping patterns. Irrigation will need to be expanded in the coming decades to meet growing food demand, but it is estimated that the combination of these measures could save irrigated water consumption by more than a quarter by 2050.

To achieve the best results, these measures must be combined with regulatory measures to curb water withdrawals. This ensures that the water saved is allocated to expanding irrigated areas, rather than being used for water-intensive crops. In addition, there is a significant need to greatly enhance the adoption of regenerative agriculture systems that aim to maintain soil health, such as storing organic carbon in the soil and retaining soil moisture. To achieve these systems, we need to reach out to large agri-industrial sectors to transform supply chains, as well as create farmer-centric solutions to increase demand for renewable agricultural products and restore sustainable traditional technologies.

At the same time, we need to reduce our dependence on foods that consume a lot of water. By 2050, we should aim to increase the proportion of plant-based foods in our diet to around 30%, especially in high-income countries with high consumption of red meat and dairy products. Achieving this globally is ambitious, and changing consumer habits will take time, but it is necessary.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program