In the world of today, people in Japan indirectly affect the hydrological system in the
United States and people in the Netherlands indirectly impact on the regional water systems
in Brazil. Much has been reported about the expected effects of past and ongoing
local emissions of greenhouse gasses on the future global temperature, evaporation and
precipitation patterns. Little attention has been paid, however, to a second mechanism
through which people affect water systems in other parts of the world. This second mechanism,
which is actually much more visible already today, is through global trade. International
trade in agricultural and industrial commodities creates a direct link between the
demand for water-intensive commodities (notably crops) in countries such as Japan and
the Netherlands and the water use for production of export commodities in countries such
as the United States and Brazil. The water use for producing export commodities to the
global market significantly contributes to the change of regional water systems. Through
their consumption of American products, Japanese consumers exert an indirect pressure
on water resources in the US, contributing to the mining of aquifers and emptying of rivers
in North America. We know the examples of the mined Ogallala Aquifer and emptied
Colorado River. In a similar way Dutch consumers contribute to a significant degree to the
water demand in Brazil.
In the world of today, people in Japan indirectly affect the hydrological system in theUnited States and people in the Netherlands indirectly impact on the regional water systemsin Brazil. Much has been reported about the expected effects of past and ongoinglocal emissions of greenhouse gasses on the future global temperature, evaporation andprecipitation patterns. Little attention has been paid, however, to a second mechanismthrough which people affect water systems in other parts of the world. This second mechanism,which is actually much more visible already today, is through global trade. Internationaltrade in agricultural and industrial commodities creates a direct link between thedemand for water-intensive commodities (notably crops) in countries such as Japan andthe Netherlands and the water use for production of export commodities in countries suchas the United States and Brazil. The water use for producing export commodities to theglobal market significantly contributes to the change of regional water systems. Throughtheir consumption of American products, Japanese consumers exert an indirect pressureon water resources in the US, contributing to the mining of aquifers and emptying of riversin North America. We know the examples of the mined Ogallala Aquifer and emptiedColorado River. In a similar way Dutch consumers contribute to a significant degree to thewater demand in Brazil.
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