Clinton: Clean water is a matter of ‘human security’ and ‘national security’

In marking World Water Day on Monday at the National Geographic Society in Washington, Clinton said: Experts predict … that by 2025, just 15 years from now, nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries will be water-stressed. Many sources of freshwater will be under additional strain from climate change and population growth. And 2.4 billion people ...

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images (Image from May 12, 2008)
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images (Image from May 12, 2008)
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images (Image from May 12, 2008)

In marking World Water Day on Monday at the National Geographic Society in Washington, Clinton said:

In marking World Water Day on Monday at the National Geographic Society in Washington, Clinton said:

Experts predict … that by 2025, just 15 years from now, nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries will be water-stressed. Many sources of freshwater will be under additional strain from climate change and population growth. And 2.4 billion people will face absolute water scarcity — the point at which a lack of water threatens social and economic development. […]

Access to reliable supplies of clean water is a matter of human security. It’s also a matter of national security. And that’s why President Obama and I recognize that water issues are integral to the success of many of our major foreign-policy initiatives.

For more about water, check out this week’s FP photo slide show, “The Big Thirsty,” and last year’s special quiz about water.

Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009 to 2016 and was an FP assistant editor from 2007 to 2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP

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