Security Council
Water Conflicts
As demand for water hits the limits of supply, potential conflicts are brewing between nations that share trans-boundary freshwater reserves. More than 40 countries on five continents may soon find themselves in disputes with their neighbors over their water supplies. Unless they move quickly to establish agreements on how to share their lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, these water disputes may soon cause more wars than any other natural resource ever has. Some of the regions that could have major conflicts include the Jordan River Basin in the Middle East region, many parts of Africa, and the Baltic region. It is imperative that the United Nations attempt to mediate these conflicts before they occur by creating fair sharing of water resources and attempting to address climate issues that are depleting the world’s freshwater resources.