The White House is discussing linking global water security to national security.
Increasing climate change, agricultural practices, and subsequent effects on waterways around the world are major concerns for the government.
For the first time, to counter the effects, the National Security Council officials are discussing releasing a White House action plan for global water security, per Axios.
The United Nations estimates half the world will face some level of water stress by 2030.
A plan, if approved, would help establish ways to protect the world’s water resources. It would also help prevent conflicts over water—including in the Middle East and Africa, which is key to national security.
In the 2017 Global Water Strategy document, the US Government pointed out that a growing global water crisis may increase disease, undermine economic growth, foster insecurity, and state failure. A crisis also reduces the capacity of countries to advance priorities that support US national interests.
The NSC has taken it upon itself to assess the above risks and advise the Biden administration accordingly.
The US government—through its USAID wing—is already involved in sanitation and hygiene efforts around the world.
The story first came out in Axios.
