LONG-TERM WATER SECURITY IN CITIES By Dr. Gonzalo Delacámara Director, Centre for Water & Climate Adaptation, IE University
As irrigation agriculture is responsible for the most relevant share of global freshwater withdrawal (72%, according to UN FAO), water challenges have long been seen through a rural lens given their implications on agriculture and food security. However, water security is increasingly becoming a prominent urban issue too. By 2050, 55% of the global population is expected to live in cities above 50,000
cities. Conventionally water security has not
inhabitants. Water demand is expected to
been at the core of approaches to urban water
increase by 55% by then, especially due to
management. Water utilities were responsible
growing demand from manufacturing, power
for managing a wide range of infrastructures to
generation, and domestic use.
deliver public services. Now, gradually, mostly in the most advanced economies, they also
As a consequence of climate change, population
have the imperative of managing data.
growth, and rapid urbanization, cities will continue to face multiple pressures linked
Minister Hania Pérez de Cuéllar, responsible
to deteriorating water quality and hygiene,
for Housing, Building and Sanitation at the
increasing natural hazards (floods, droughts,
Government of Peru, and Chris Holmes, Senior
sea-level rise), conflicts over water allocation,
Consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Chris,
and aging infrastructure.
a world-class expert, most recently served at the U.S. Agency for International Development
IDA WCC 2023 provided us with the opportunity
(USAID) as global water coordinator. He was
to discuss from different angles some of the
responsible for coordinating the agency’s
challenges around long-term water security in
five-year, $2 billion water supply, sanitation and
41
