Key figures concerning water in the world
More than 900 million people have no access to drinking water (including 322 million Africans and 234 million in southern Asia).
The water carrying chore prevents thousands of little girls from going to school. In rural areas of Africa, more than 100 million women spend an average of three hours every day collecting and carrying water.
The water carrying chore prevents thousands of little girls from going to school. In rural areas of Africa, more than 100 million women spend an average of three hours every day collecting and carrying water.
Population to be covered worldwide by 2015, with respect to the Millennium Development Goals – MDG’s (2006 figures) in millions of people
Worldwide, 8% of freshwater is devoted to domestic uses (drinking, cooking, washing, etc.), 22% to industry and energy production and 70% to agriculture.
Regions suffering from water shortages are not always those with the least water resources, but are those in which water demand, particularly for agriculture, is very high.
There is a wide disparity between the rich nations and the developing countries with regard to daily water consumption per capita : 350 litres in the United States (and more than 600 litres in California), 350 litres in Japan, 200 litres in Europe and 10 to 20 litres in Africa.
A meat-free diet requires only 2000 litres of water per day, whereas 5000 litres are needed for a meat diet in which the meat is produced using grain, as is the case in the industrialised countries. Producing one kilo of beef requires 15 times more water than one kilo of wheat.
Regions suffering from water shortages are not always those with the least water resources, but are those in which water demand, particularly for agriculture, is very high.
There is a wide disparity between the rich nations and the developing countries with regard to daily water consumption per capita : 350 litres in the United States (and more than 600 litres in California), 350 litres in Japan, 200 litres in Europe and 10 to 20 litres in Africa.
A meat-free diet requires only 2000 litres of water per day, whereas 5000 litres are needed for a meat diet in which the meat is produced using grain, as is the case in the industrialised countries. Producing one kilo of beef requires 15 times more water than one kilo of wheat.
