Posted on 22-8-2002

Mud, And Stone In Asia-Pacific

WASHINGTON, DC, August 20, 2002 (ENS) - Polluted water and poor sanitation
are the biggest killers of children in Asia and the Pacific, finds a new
report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP) for the
region. The report, which details the region's environmental problems,
including water pollution, was released to help guide experts meeting later
this month at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,
South Africa.

Worldwide, more children have died from the effects of severe diarrhea, a
product of polluted water and poor sanitation, than all the people killed
through armed conflicts since the Second World War. According to "State of
the Environment in Asia and the Pacific 2000," a joint publication of ESCAP
and the Asian Development Bank, most of the victims lived in Asia. The root
of the problem can be found in the increasing pressures being placed on the
region's freshwater supplies, according to the study. Growing populations,
urbanization and economic development are degrading the quantity and
quality of Asia's freshwater. The report puts the blame squarely on
inadequately enforced legislation in recent years, as well as ineffective
water resource planning, management and coordination.

The population of the region has more than doubled in the past four
decades, rising from 1.7 billion in 1960 to 3.7 billion in 2000, an
addition of two billion in 40 years, the report notes. This population boom
is straining all resources, but the most dramatic rise in demand has been
for fresh water. Demand for safe drinking water is anticipated to increase
five fold in the next 40 years, the report states. The Republic of Korea,
Singapore and Maldives are already at the water stress or scarcity stage,
while the Aral Sea and the Northern China plains are experiencing acute
shortages of water. Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran will
become water stressed by 2025 if population growth continues at current
United Nations projections, and India and the People's Republic of China
will not be far behind.

Massive withdrawals from rivers, lakes and underground reservoirs have
contributed to the growing scarcity of fresh water. Although agriculture
will continue to be the largest consumer of water, the fastest increase in
water demand will occur in the urban and industrial sectors, where water
use is projected to climb by 135 percent over the next 40 years. The
problem may be made worse by climate change, which could change existing
rainfall patterns and leave many now fertile areas high and dry.

Marine and coastal environments suffer from overfishing and habitat
degradation, and are under threat from climate change and sea level rise.
Several of the region's most important fishing areas and almost two thirds
of the major fish species are either fully or overexploited. About 80
percent of coral reefs in southeast Asia, 54 percent in the Indian Ocean
and 41 percent in the Pacific Ocean are at medium to high risk, the report
states. As most fishing areas reach their maximum potential and production
from capture fisheries dwindles, aquaculture production will become an
increasingly important industry.

Water pollution may also worsen in many countries of the region. The
Republic of Korea has initiated a set of ambitious water quality targets
for 2001 and 2005. However, considering the region's existing pollution
problems, it may be difficult to meet those standards, the report warns,
particularly in view of increasing fertilizer use.

Coastal and marine pollution in the region is likely to increase. Untreated
urban and industrial wastes that find their way ... Full report at
www.unescap.org/enrd/environment/activities/soe.htm