In the lead-up to World Water Day (March 22), the theme of which is ‘Glacier Preservation’, Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) warns that people dependent on glacial meltwater for crops will face even worse food insecurity as population numbers continue to grow.
SPA Spokesperson Michael Bayliss says that billions of people as well as global ecosystems are at risk of devastation as glaciers melt faster than ever due to human induced climate change.
“Glaciers are melting earlier in spring, just as crops are being sown,” says Mr Bayliss. “This is not a problem at the time, but it is a problem later in the season when there is less meltwater. Farmers then need to supplement with groundwater if there is insufficient rain.
“As more farmland is opened up because there are more mouths to feed, aquifers are over pumped, putting at risk the ongoing ability to grow crops.
Michael Bayliss, SPA Spokesperson, is available for further comments from 7am AWST or 10am AEDT on 0423 701 611.
SPA President, Peter Strachan, says that Increased meltwater can trigger landslides or glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that flood communities downstream.
“Changes in meltwater can also affect a region’s hydropower industry that underpins development.”
“Pakistan, the country with the highest number of glaciers outside the world’s poles, is one country particularly vulnerable to long-term changes in run-off.
“The Pakistan floods of 2022 that submerged a third of the country and caused a humanitarian crisis, were primarily caused by unusually heavy monsoon rains, but water from melting glaciers also contributed to the flooding.
“Prior to the monsoon, Pakistan had experienced a period of record high temperatures that topped 50 °C, largely attributable to climate change. The heatwave caused more meltwater than usual to enter the Indus River and its tributaries.
“Unless climate change can be turned around, Pakistan can expect more of the same, and with its population growing by over 3.8 million people a year, more and more people will be vulnerable to drowning and hunger.”
Peter Strachan, SPA National President, is available for further comment from 6am AWST or 09am AEDT on 0412 400 952.
Mr Bayliss added that it is not just countries with glaciers that are suffering.
“South Australia is experiencing water shortages after two years of drought and a long, hot summer. Adelaide had its driest summer in 33 years and 2024 was the driest year since 2006. If this trend continues, agriculture will become increasingly unviable in South Australia. It certainly should not be entertaining the prospect of further population growth.”
Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) recently launched a report, "Big thirsty Australia: how population growth threatens our water security and sustainability". A talk from two of the co-authors, Hon. Sandra Kanck and Jonathan Sobels, will be launched in Adelaide on 26th of March. More information available on the SPA website here.
Contact details:
Michael Bayliss - Communications Manager and Spokesperson
[email protected]
0423 701 611
Peter Strachan - SPA National President
[email protected]
0412 400 952
