FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL

ENVIRONMENTAL
AWARENESS
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the
author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European
Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can
be held responsible for them.
 WATER SCARCITY AND
TOURISM POLLUTION
27 th March - 31 th March 2023
SPAIN
WATER SCARCITY
Water scarcity is simply the lack of access to water.
While this environmental issue has always been a
concern for humans, it is growing rapidly around the
world poses an unprecedented threat in the 21st
century.

This is a major threat to socio-economic development

and available resources. Because, although
approximately 71% of the earth's surface is covered
with water, fresh water is needed for living things to
survive. On the other hand, only 2.5% of the water in
the world is fresh water.
In addition, factors such as global water consumption, climate change and clean
water consumption and pollution reduce the temperature of fresh water. In other
words, we cannot effectively use all of the already scarce resources. However, the
question of when the world will run out of water raises concerns.
Researches show that by the end of 2032, more than half of the world will face water
shortages. On the other hand, if water use is not drastically reduced, it is estimated
that there will be a severe water shortage by 2040.
To effectively address realities and find solutions, it is important to understand the
characteristics and causes of this issue.
CAUSES OF WATER SCARCITY
There are many causes of water
scarcity.

Climate change: Changes in rainfall

patterns, temperature and weather
events, including droughts and
floods, can affect the availability of
freshwater.
Population growth: As the
world's population continues to
grow, the demand for water
increases, which can lead to
water scarcity in densely
populated areas.
Urbanization: Rapid urbanization
can put pressure on water
resources, as cities require large
amounts of water for domestic
and industrial use.
Poor water management:
Mismanagement of water
resources, including overuse,
pollution, and inadequate
infrastructure, can also
contribute to water scarcity.
Unconscious agricultural irrigation:
As a result of unconscious irrigation
by farmers, it causes environmental
problems such as soil erosion,
groundwater rise and salinization or
barrenness by giving excessive water.
Pollution: It occurs when people
use the earth's waters
consciously or unconsciously.
CONSEQUENCES OF WATER
SCARCITY
The consequences of water scarcity can be severe
and wide-ranging, including:

Impacts on human health: Without access to

clean and safe water, people may suffer from
waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid,
and diarrhea.
Economic impacts: Water scarcity can lead to
reduced agricultural productivity, which can affect
food security and increase food prices. It can also
affect industries that rely on water, such as
manufacturing and energy production.
Social impacts: Water scarcity can lead to
conflicts over water resources, particularly
in areas where water is scarce or where
water is shared by different communities.
Environmental impacts: Water scarcity can
cause ecosystems to degrade and can
affect the biodiversity of aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems.
Overall, water scarcity is a serious issue
that affects many aspects of human life
and the environment. It requires a
multifaceted approach to manage water
resources sustainably and ensure
equitable access to water for all.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO PREVENT WATER SCARCITY?
There are several steps that can be taken to prevent water scarcity, including:

Promote water conservation: Encourage people to conserve water by fixing leaky faucets, taking
shorter showers, and using water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Reduce water pollution: Take measures to reduce water pollution, such as using environmentally
friendly products and properly disposing of hazardous waste.
Increase water recycling: Develop and promote water recycling technologies, such as treating
wastewater for reuse in irrigation or industrial processes.
Implement sustainable water management practices: Use sustainable water management
practices, such as rainwater harvesting, to conserve water and reduce dependence on
groundwater sources.
Invest in water infrastructure: Invest in water infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs, and water
treatment plants, to increase the availability of water for human consumption, agriculture, and
industry.
Increase public awareness: Educate the public about the importance of water conservation and
the consequences of water scarcity.
By taking these steps, we can prevent water scarcity and help future generations have access to
clean and reliable water sources.
TOURISM POLLUTION
Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use
is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use
within the acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled conventional
tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the
world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to
impacts such as soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into
the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered
species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. It often puts a
strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to
compete for the use of critical resources.

Tourism can cause some forms of pollution such as air emissions,

noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and
chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution.
Air and Noise Pollution
Air Pollution:
• Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the
rising number of tourists and their greater mobility. One consequence of
this increase in air transport is that tourism now accounts for more than
60% of air travel and is therefore responsible for an important share of air
emissions.
• Transport emissions and emissions from energy production and use are
linked to acid rain, global warming and photochemical pollution. Air
pollution from tourist transportation has impacts on global level, especially
from carbon dioxide (CO ) emissions related to transportation energy use.
And it can contribute to severe local air pollution. Some of these impacts
are quite specific to tourist activities. For example, especially in very hot or
cold countries, tour buses often leave their motors running for hours while
the tourists go out for an excursion because they want to return to a
comfortably air-conditioned bus.
Noise Pollution:
Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as recreational
vehicles such as snowmobiles and jet skis, is an ever-growing problem
of modern life. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even
hearing loss, it causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas.
For instance, noise generated by snowmobiles can cause animals to alter
their natural activity patterns.
Solid Waste and Littering
As an industry prone to overconsumption, tourism consequently produces a substantial
amount of waste and pollution. In some places, tourists produce up to twice as much waste as
local residents. This can put incredible strain on local waste management systems, causing
landfills and sewage plants to overflow. Another major issue is the improper disposal of trash,
raw sewage, and toxic chemicals by tourists, hotels, cruise ships, and others. In addition to
making destinations less attractive, this litter and pollution can have detrimental effects on
local people and wildlife.
• In areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and appealing natural
attractions, waste disposal is a serious problem and improper disposal can be a
major despoiler of the natural environment - rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides.
Today some cruise lines are actively working to reduce waste-related impacts.
Solid waste and littering can degrade the physical appearance of the water and
shoreline and cause the death of marine animals.
• In mountain areas, trekking tourists generate a great deal of waste. Tourists on
expedition leave behind their garbage, oxygen cylinders and even camping
equipment. Such practices degrade the environment with all the detritus typical of
the developed world, in remote areas that have few garbage collection or disposal
facilities.
Sewage
• Construction of hotels, recreation and other facilities often leads to
increased sewage pollution. Wastewater pollutes seas and lakes
surrounding tourist attractions, damaging the flora and fauna. Sewage
runoff causes serious damage to coral reefs because it stimulates the
growth of algae, which cover the filter-feeding corals, hindering their
ability to survive. Changes in salinity and siltation can have wide-
ranging impacts on coastal environments. And sewage pollution can
threaten the health of humans and animals.
Aesthetic Pollution
• Often tourism fails to integrate its structures
with the natural features and indigenous
architectural of the destination. Large,
dominating resorts of disparate design can look
out of place in any natural environment and
may clash with the indigenous structural
design.
• A lack of land-use planning and building
regulations in many destinations has facilitated
sprawling developments along coastlines,
valleys and scenic routes. The sprawl includes
tourism facilities themselves and supporting
infrastructure such as roads, employee housing,
parking, service areas, and waste disposal.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO PREVENT TOURISM
POLLUTION
Take Fewer Flights & Reduce Your Creation of Carbon
footprints
• First of all, traveling & experiencing this world doesn’t have to mean
hopping on a plane across the world. Learning to enjoy where you live like
a traveler is an underrated way to experience this amazing world.
• If we’re flying, we’re adding a significant amount of planet-warming gases
to the atmosphere — there’s no way around it. With the aviation industry
producing 2% of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions and accounting
for 859 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in one year, one of the
best things we can do for the environment is to start taking fewer
flights. When you do fly, fly direct (non-stop) or with the least amount of
stops possible.
Go green

Stay in hotels that have recycling

programs in place and abide by them.
When traveling, travel with reusables like
reusable water bottles, travel mugs, a
cloth shopping bag for the groceries, and
containers for leftovers, all the while,
avoiding single-use disposables.
Spread awareness
As educated people, who are fully
aware of how our actions impact the
environment, and who understand
sustainable tourism, it is our duty to
educate others by spreading
awareness on the same.
Bring Your Own Waste-Free Tools

The best way to avoid plastic/excessive

waste while traveling is coming prepared
with waste-free tools! When you have
these, it’s so much easier to avoid
unnecessary waste that we can easily
create while traveling. Choose options
that are reusable, biodegradable/have
biodegradable packaging and EASY
Use Public Transportation & Walk/Bike
• This might seem like an obvious one but it’s so common for travelers to automatically
book a rental car when they’re booking a trip! When traveling, use public transportation
when possible & as much as possible. Both trains and buses are some of the lowest
carbon-emitting modes of transportation (next to riding a bicycle) and a great way to see
a place like a local
• A lot of places in the US & abroad have awesome bike-sharing programs that will help
you reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. And walking is always a wonderful
option! It will drastically reduce your carbon emissions & is a lovely way to get some
exercise!
Choose Eco-Friendly Activities & Tour Operators
Only partake in experiences that are benefiting the local people,
animals and ecosystems. We must consider the ripple effects beyond
the pretty photos that are drawing us in! It’s easy to get caught up in
the moment and choose an activity without researching its impact on
the environment.
THANK YOU!