3. Clean water
Climatologists and ecologists predict that a change in weather patterns will inevitably affect the planet
in significant ways. Some areas will likely experience severe droughts, whereas others will see heavy
flooding. Drought and floods can both lead to a shortage of clean drinking water and food and create
an increase in refugees and migrants as people move to new areas in search of food or clean water.
More investment in new technologies will undoubtedly be needed to make water safer in difficult times.
The above challenges cannot be met without economic support. All too often, cheaper technologies
that pollute the environment are still preferred over cleaner, more expensive ones. On the last day of
conference, one expert concluded by saying, “If industries and governments don’t invest in new
technologies, we’re going to destroy our planet and the people who live here. Earth’s resources won’t
last forever and we might well become victims of our own lack of planning. Spending millions now
might well save billions later.”