Europe's Massive Water Footprint

"While Europe may take better care of its water resources

than other continents, it in fact uses larger quantities via imports of goods such as cotton, beans or wood, which often come from regions that already suffer from water scarcity, argues a UN expert in an interview with EurActiv.

The notion of "virtual water" embedded in a commodity or a product, is an essential part of the 'water footprint' theory but has not yet received much attention, argued Maude Barlow, a special adviser on water issues to the president of the UN General Assembly.

However, she warned: "You are going to hear about this virtual water trade a lot more in the next few years."

A water footprint is the total amount of water a country needs to sustain its population and industry. But while Europe tries to take good care of its own resources, it uses water from other places via its agribusiness imports. "I think it is important to find out about each country's footprint, how much of your water comes from outside the country and what was the energy needed to bring that water here," she said.

Barlow called into question European consumers' way of life, with some wanting strawberries all year round. Meanwhile, African lakes are dying, because the berries suck up water which is then shipped out of the country, she said. Great Britain alone "imports two thirds of its water footprint. And it imports it from Africa, Latin America and from places which don't have any water," she noted.

As for biofuels, she noted that while there is a drive to grow biofuels to combat CO2 emissions, "we don't stop and ask what biofuels might do to other parts of nature. They are water guzzlers. Biofuels and corn ethanol

use a huge amount of water"."

ORIGINAL SOURCE: EurActiv.com