The Next “Day Zero”: Water Scarcity and Political Instability beyond Cape Town

Mar 24, 2018 | Nazia Hussain
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Cape Town is running dry. But thanks to its sophisticated water management efforts, the city may ride out the crisis. However, other cities that lack these capacities are less likely to survive Day Zero. Especially in developing countries, where urban water services are often provided by informal or illegal actors, running out of water could have dangerous ripple effects for peace and security. In developing countries around the world, the effects of climate change are increasing both water insecurity and political insecurity. Most water programs have focused on increasing access to water in rural areas, not cities. But by 2050, most people in Asia and Africa will live in cities, where water supplies sometimes depend on violent entrepreneurs, criminal groups, and other informal or illegal service providers.