First initiative: The Pacific Odyssey
DRINKING WATER ACCESS
CHALLENGES IN THE PACIFIC
The Pacific Ocean, the largest on the planet, covers a third of Earth’s total surface. The South Pacific Ocean specifically counts about 30 000 islands, 22 countries and more than 40 millions inhabitants at the heart of the global climate, development and economical challenges. Scattered, remote and heterogenous area, the south Pacific Ocean has one terrible common challenge shared by all islands: the drinking water access.
Pollution, sea level rise, salt intrusion in the aquifer and growing uncertainty in rainfall patterns, all linked to climate change, have dramatically reduced the availability of fresh water in the region leading to disease, climate migrations, hunger and poverty.
Using the infinite local resource provided by the sea and the sun is a relevant solution to supply affordable and sustainable water. The technologies already exist and are well proven, but technology alone will not address the challenge. The sustainable solution lies in the combination of well-designed technologies and socio-economically viable management models built by and with the local beneficiaries.
