China to Decouple Water Use from GDP: Water Shortage a Reality for Two Thirds of China’s Cities (Jack Rosebro, GreenCarCongress)
(Feb. 15, 2009, Jack Rosebro, Green Car Congress)
Xinhua. Faced with widespread drought and water shortages, China’s Water Resources Minister Chen Lei has announced a national goal of reducing the country’s water use, as measured by the amount of water used per unit of GDP, to about 55% of current consumption by 2020. The target is 125 cubic meters (33,000 gallons) of water per 10,000 yuan (US$1,460) of gross domestic product, a reduction of 60% from 2007 figures. For 2008, official figures are 229 cubic meters per 10,000 yuan of GDP.
About 158 million mu (10 million hectares) of wheat crop have been damaged or destroyed by the country’s worst drought in half a century, according to official figures. Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced that the Puccinia striiformis fungus, which is commonly known as stripe rust, had spread to 753,00 hectares of wheat, a 40% increase over last year’s outbreak. The MOA expects the prevailing dry climate to accelerate the spread of the fungus.
Rainfall this week has alleviated parts of drought-stricken provinces to some extent, with more rain forecast next week. Official data from China’s Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief estimates that as of 6 February, the drought had left more than 4.5 million people and 2.5 million livestock short of adequate drinking water.
More than two-thirds of China’s cities as well as 200 million rural residents already suffer water shortages.
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