The War and Water project analyzes how post-war societies are shaped through water scarcity, particularly when inflicted by war.
Safely managing water is key for livelihoods, energy production and sustainable development. Over the last century, global water use has increased sixfold and will further increase for the foreseeable future. Yet, over 2 billion people remain without safe drinking water, 4.2 billion lack basic access to sanitation, and climate change threatens sustainable water access in many regions. These issues are further compounded by ongoing wars with drastic consequences for water availability.
While we know much about the benefits of safe water to societies in general, there is less systematic research on the impact of war on water access, particularly in regard to long-term societal impact. This project targets overarching research questions:
- What are short- and long-term consequences for societies facing water scarcity after war?
- How do climate extremes affect post-war access to water services?
The project directly links to water components within broader VIEWS projects.
