Why should the United States engage on global water issues?

The consequences in developing and developed regions alike will influence U.S. security, commercial, and diplomatic interests. Tackling global water issues is also at the heart of accomplishing U.S. foreign policy objectives, from eradicating hunger and poverty to promoting democracy to fighting HIV/AIDS. The UN World Water Assessment Program maintains that "There is a strong positive link between investment in irrigation, poverty alleviation, and food security." Studies conducted in India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam show that incidence, depth, and severity of poverty was substantially lower in areas with well-developed irrigations systems and agricultural production than in those areas relying on rain-fed agriculture.

Sustainable water programs and projects require open and stakeholder-driven planning and implementation processes. In many water-stressed regions, political systems and institutions are unable to support such processes, either due to poor regulatory frameworks, weak or fragmented institutions, or poor governance. National-scale projects in these regions are unlikely to achieve much headway, but integrated, multi-stakeholder water projects conducted at local levels can provide the experience of participatory processes and instill the principles of democracy. Whether protecting security and stability in important regions or promoting U.S. foreign policy objectives, global water issues are integral to U.S. strategic interests around the world.

Why is it widely believed there is a looming global water crisis?

Why should policymakers adjust the current approach to solving this crisis?

Why should the United States engage on global water issues?