Why we need to prepare now for the impending water crisis

The main direct impact of climate change on Malta is expected to be increased water stress, believes Malta’s first ambassador on climate change, Michael Zammit Cutajar.

Water stress is the ratio of ground water extraction to available groundwater resources.

Speaking to this newspaper as the UN climate change summit in Paris began this week, the former (and first) executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change noted that climate change would also perhaps increase emigration from drought-stricken African countries.

“Water stress is a historical constraint for Malta and it will get worse as Mediterranean rainfall declines because of climate change,” Mr Zammit Cutajar said.

“Water policy in Malta should be given greater political importance, promoting water conservation and recycling, and combating theft and pollution by chemicals,” he added, noting that while desalination continued to be essential, it consumed a lot of electricity.

Thus a water strategy would go hand in hand with greening power generation, which would be an important contribution to limiting the greenhouse gas emissions from our economy and our way of life. “This is a tiny contribution to the...