Every culture and ecosystem on earth depends on water. As the world's climate changes, human culture is increasingly threatened by the seemingly opposite problems of having too little clean, potable water and "having too much water"—e.g., flooding, melting polar ice caps, and rising sea levels. What are the solutions that humanity must collectively pursue to protect our ability to flourish on planet earth?

Water Planet: The Culture, Politics, Economics, and Sustainability of Water on Earth offers an unprecedented examination of the critical subject of water sustainability. Its essays, viewpoints, case studies, and documents show how this vital resource that many in first-world countries take for granted is intricately woven into not only basic human survival but also cultural, political, and economic stability. Readers will learn about topics such as flooding and drought; the growing problem of water pollution; the connections between water and gender, including gender equity and gender aspects of water ownership; the effects of global temperature changes on the water supply; concerns regarding fishing and over fishing; water security; and sustainable water management.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Water and Climate Change

Chapter 2: Global Water Cycle Disruptions and Intense Weather Events

Chapter 3: Sharing Freshwater: Cooperation or Conflict?

Chapter 4: Ocean and Coastal Environments

Chapter 5: Water Governance and Conflicts

Chapter 6: Water as the Basis for Social and Economic Life

Chapter 7: Water, Human Settlements, and the Growth of Cities

Chapter 8: Water, Ocean Exploration, and Land Grabs

Chapter 9: Water and Energy

Chapter 10: Water and Culture

Chapter 11: Water and Gender

Chapter 12: A Time for Change and a Call to Action

Bibliography

About the Editor and Contributors

Index