在21世纪,水荒将引发政治紧张、小冲突甚至战争,正如石油在本世纪后半叶的影响一样。据世界银行消息,世界上80多个国家、40%的人口处于严重的用水短缺之中,水荒危及农业、工业和人类健康。人口增长、工业发展、过量灌溉用水及水污染所造成的用水短缺,不仅影响那些干旱国家,而且也影响像中国、美国这样的水资源丰富国家。去年二月加拿大议会通过了暂停大批量淡 In the 21st century, water scarcity will trigger political tensions, small conflicts and even wars, just as oil had the same impact in the second half of this century. According to the World Bank, 40% of the world’s population in more than 80 countries is in serious shortage of water, threatening the agricultural, industrial and human health. The water shortages caused by population growth, industrial development, excessive irrigation of water and water pollution affect not only those arid countries but also water-rich countries like China and the United States. Last February the Canadian parliament passed a moratorium on large quantities