SciDev.Net

On the occasion of this week's World Water Forum, taking place this week in Japan, this editorial in Nature reflects on the role of science in meeting the international goal of halving the number of people lacking access to safe drinking water by 2015.

In large part, the answer lies in the development and large-scale application of relatively simple technologies. But it is also vital, the editorial argues, to get bright young scientists and engineers interested in the world's water problems.

It is at the political level, however, that the battle to avert the global water crisis will ultimately be won or lost. Averting the global water crisis will require developed nations to summon the political will — and hard cash — to help the world's poorest countries tackle water-borne disease.

Link to Nature editorial

Source: Nature 422, 243, (2003)

Related external articles:

The world's freshwater crisis

World Water Forum