Welcome to the deck on Resource Management, focusing on water. This is an optional topic in Paper 2, so it's important to check with your teacher that this is one of the topics your school has chosen to study. In this deck, we'll explore why water is so unevenly distributed across the globe, what causes water shortages, and the impacts this has on people and the environment. We'll also evaluate the large-scale and sustainable strategies used to manage our most precious resource.

Globally, the supply of fresh water is very uneven. Some countries have far more water than they need, while others face constant shortages. This is mainly down to climate. Areas with high rainfall, like those near the equator or in the path of monsoon rains, have a lot of water. In contrast, areas with low rainfall, such as those in the subtropics where deserts are common, have very little. This creates a pattern of water surplus and water deficit around the world.

While supply is fixed by climate, the demand for water is rising rapidly across the world. There are three main reasons for this. Firstly, global population growth means there are more people who need water for drinking, sanitation, and hygiene. Secondly, economic development means more water is needed for industries, manufacturing, and energy production. Finally, agriculture is the biggest user of water by far, needed for irrigation to grow more food for the rising population.