Sisyphean Struggle or Pyrrhic Victory?
G Venkatesh
Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, S P Andresensv 5, Trondheim, 7491 (Norway)
Abstract
The first two words in the headline allude to a never-ending pursuit of something which is elusive – say sustainability, with this endless and dogged keeping-on taking the name sustainable development. The last two would indicate that what we are talking about could be a zero-sum game. Whether or not even a Pyrrhic victory would be attained when it comes to sustaining the water resources on Terra Firma, is difficult to say, realistically speaking. A struggle it promises to be, nevertheless… partly-Sisyphean. As the Norwegian explorer, scientist and environmentalist Thor Heyerdahl said, Life originated in the sea. All life on land is dependent on the unique hydrological cycle which has been designed so meticulously by Nature. Mankind needs to work together with Nature, so that both are saved.
Keywords:
climate change, water scarcity, clean water, water resources management, water-energy nexusReferences
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Authors
G VenkateshDepartment of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, S P Andresensv 5, Trondheim, 7491 Norway
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