The “Water Wars” Trap

Dec 9, 2015 | Josh Newton
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As negotiations at the Paris climate conference head into the final, critical stage, a piece of pop wisdom is coming to a boil: “They say the next wars will be fought over water.” Some politicians, academics, and laypersons angling for progress on climate change have picked up the frenzied refrain. In the process, they are dragging us all into a “water wars” trap—and compromising real progress toward sustainable solutions.