14 July 2011 – For the first time ever, China’s Politburo Standing Committee (the Communist Party’s most powerful body) met to discuss the country’s water resources. More than half the country’s water is polluted and 300 million Chinese use supplies too contaminated to drink. Among the government’s proposed measures is more efficient irrigation, guaranteed funds for conservancy programmes and controlled consumption. A starting budget of 4 trillion yuan (HKD 4.82 trillion) has been set. However, more than money and funding is needed – water holds the same importance to the economy as food and energy. Water scarcity has become a matter of national security.

To explore more on this topic and see what problems the international community may face due to the current water crisis, check out China’s Water Crisis, Food Security and Water Wars