Scientists from 15 countries are calling for a better politicalresponse to the provision of water and energy to meet the challenge of feeding a world of 9 billion peoplewithin 30 years. The joint statement by some of the world's leading scienceacademies was issued on Thursday ahead of the G8 summit in theUnited States. It is part of the annual lobbying effort aimed atfocusing the attention of world leaders on issues the scientificcommunity regards as crucial. For the first time, the scientists argue that looming shortages inwater and energy supplies should be treated as a single issue. "Major stresses on availability of energy and water arealready being felt in many countries and regions and more areforeseeable," the joint statement said. Fossil fuel, nuclear and hydropower are still providing the bulk ofthe world's energy and they all rely heavily on the supply ofwater for cooling, running steam turbines or direct powergeneration. Conversely, large amounts of energy are used inpumping, purifying and desalinating water around the globe. "Without considering water and energy together,inefficiencies will occur, increasing shortages of both," thestatement warns. Politicians should pursue policies that integratethe two and emphasize the need for conservation, efficiency andcooperation across national borders. Disasters certain to happen The world also needs to increase its resilience against disasterslike those which result from tsunamis, earthquakes and levees thatfail in the face of rising sea levels. "Disasters are absolutely certain to happen," MichaelClegg of the US National Academy of Sciences told Reuters, addinggrowth in the global population, from 7 billion now, was focused oncoastal areas that are more vulnerable, making it "moreimportant that we design for resilience." The scientists said global annual losses from natural disastersexceeded $200 billion in 2005, 2008 and 2011 but loss of life wasgenerally much lower in developed countries. Governments should focus efforts on improving public healthsystems, strengthening building standards and better informationtechnology that enables faster warnings and response. Signatories of the statement are from the leading science academiesin the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Brazil, Canada,France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Moroccoand South Africa. They also call for better measurement of planet-warming greenhousegas emissions and more solid data country by country on naturalresources like forests, which absorb some of the most damagingcarbon emissions. "More accurate and standardized methods for estimating humanand natural sources and sinks of greenhouse gases are needed as aprerequisite for an international climate treaty and to determinethe effectiveness of national emission-reduction programs,"they said. Clegg said that despite the widespread acceptance of the need toreduce greenhouse gases, there is still a lot of uncertainty about,and a lack of standardization in, the methods for measuring thoseemissions. "There is a great need to develop more accurateapproaches," he said, adding that it was a fundamentalbuilding block for the world's response to climate change but"getting a correct measurement … is challenging." The statement urges politicians to "give greaterconsideration to the vital role science and technology could playin addressing some of the planet's most pressingchallenges". The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Recycling Plastic Crusher , China Plastic Agglomerator, and more. For more , please visit Waste Plastic Recycling Machine today!
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