According to Oxfam, wealthy corporations are unfairly taking water from developing countries.
LONDON —
On Friday, as the United Nations celebrates World Water Day, there is an increasing threat of disputes arising over water access due to the effects of climate change, according to the global organization.
In the meantime, the non-governmental aid organization Oxfam accused large corporations of taking water from underprivileged nations for their own financial gain.
The U.N. announced that this year’s focus will be on the theme of Water for Peace, cautioning that conflicts may arise between communities and countries when there is a lack of clean water or unequal access to it.
According to the United Nations, over 3 billion individuals around the world rely on water that travels between different countries. However, only 24 nations have formal agreements for managing all of their shared water sources. With the effects of climate change becoming more severe and global population on the rise, it is crucial for countries to collaborate and work towards safeguarding and preserving our most valuable resource.
For several weeks now, the taps in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, have been without water. This has affected millions of individuals.
On the outskirts of the city in Soweto, thousands of people have been lining up to collect water in bottles and buckets from tankers that bring in water from outside the city.
Thabisile Mchunu, a resident of Soweto, explained to The Associated Press on Monday that carrying 20-liter buckets has been a difficult task for someone of her age. She expressed her concern for the uncertain future of access to water.
The deteriorating infrastructure in Johannesburg is one of the factors contributing to water scarcity. However, experts claim that the increasingly severe effects of climate change are also leading to the depletion of reservoirs not only in South Africa, but also in various other regions around the globe.
According to the United Nations, approximately 2.2 billion individuals do not have access to secure sources of drinking water.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), approximately half of the world’s population suffers from severe water scarcity during some point in the year. This issue is most prevalent in poorer countries located in the Global South.
On March 12, 2024, residents of Johannesburg’s Blairgowrie neighborhood protested the inadequate supply of water.
Water “grabbing”
According to a recent report by Oxfam, significant multinational companies have been accused of “seizing” essential water supplies.
According to the report, the private sector is exploiting and contaminating this resource, disregarding the well-being of local communities and prioritizing their own profits. This has only worsened the already existing economic gap. Additionally, the effects of drought, made more severe by climate change, have a significant impact on agriculture and the economies of nations that rely on it. As a result, it contributes to higher levels of poverty, food insecurity, and health issues for the residents, especially in developing countries.
According to Oxfam, wealthier nations and large companies are causing water scarcity in impoverished areas by importing goods that require a lot of water, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, and bottled water.
The report states that agriculture is responsible for 70% of water withdrawals, specifically through irrigation methods, in order to support the production of meat and biofuels.
According to Oxfam, this is a strategy rooted in neocolonialism that prioritizes meeting the consumption demands of Northern countries while neglecting the wellbeing of Southern countries.
The examination indicates that the private sector is not effectively decreasing its impact on water resources.
Quentin Ghesquiere, an advisor on agriculture and food safety at Oxfam France, stated to VOA that among the 350 corporations examined in the database, which make up 50% of global agricultural revenue, only 25% have reported efforts to decrease water usage and pollution.
The image of Danone, a French food company, is displayed at the headquarters in Paris on February 5, 2024.
Government regulation
According to Oxfam, there are cases where big companies are allowed to take water resources despite limitations faced by local inhabitants. One example is the actions of Danone, a multinational food corporation based in France.
According to a report by Oxfam, in May 2023, Danone maintained the extraction of water from aquifers in France, despite restrictions imposed on the local population. This activity was deemed legal. During the same year, the company generated profits of approximately 900 million euros and distributed 1.2 billion euros in dividends to its shareholders.
Danone stated to VOA that maintaining sustainable practices in regards to water is a top priority. They also mentioned that they have increased their efforts and financial commitments to decrease their water usage at their bottling facility on a voluntary basis.
Beginning in 2017, we allocated 30 million euros towards updating our production lines. This investment has led to a 17% decrease in our withdrawals from 2017 to 2023 while also maintaining consistent sales volumes, according to a statement from Danone.
The Oxfam report suggests stricter oversight and advocates for “significant funding for adaptation in developing nations and equal access to water for all.”
Source: voanews.com
