In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground

The southern region of Spain looks lush and green, with farms and golf courses, but that could be temporary as the country runs short of fresh water. “Swaths of southeast Spain are steadily turning into desert, a process spurred on by global warming and poorly planned development,” writes Elisabeth Rosenthal for the New York Times. Regional success and a building boom have put pressure on water supplies, she explains, and shortages have spurred illegal wells, conflicts and corruption. The current pattern of economic development in southern Spain is unsustainable: The government is slow to undertake long-term planning, and as shortages loom, people scramble for water, adding pressure on supplies. As one observer noted, most people resist planning for tomorrow. – YaleGlobal