The Axis of Evil Shortages : Food, Water, Feel

While we’re all worried about global warming, potentially epic shortages of food and water are sneaking up on us, both linked to the looming global shortage of fuel.

I’ve noted this problem before. But have you been to the grocery lately? Regular foodstuffs like eggs, milk and OJ are starting to put a noticeable pinch in the typical American pocketbook.

Sure, food prices fluctuate over time. But pricey food is a mounting and serious global problem.

In Asia, the price of rice has surged as much as 50 percent lately. Beef prices are rising around the world as soaring populations (many with a newfound taste for beef) demand more.

Rising fuel prices play a role in all these problems. And with oil destined to run out — pick your favorite time frame, but it will run out — the situation will only be exacerbated.

Meanwhile, numerous studies warn of looming water shortages in the United States and around the globe, owing to growing demand and prolonged regional droughts that’ll come thanks to climate change.

From an AP story today: The world’s cities are growing by 1 million people a week, and soon their aging water systems will not cope. “Something needs to change. It needs to change quickly, and it needs to be fairly dramatic,” said Carol A. Howe, an expert working for a UNESCO-led water development project.

And here’s one of the greatest ironies of our age: While we look for alternatives to fossil fuels, in the interest of weaning ourselves off a dwindling resource and also curbing climate change, we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Again, from AP: A report published this month by UNESCO-IHE, the Institute for Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands, says it takes 70-400 times as much water to create energy from biofuels as it does from fossil fuels.

Update, March 29: The New York Times has an in-depth overview of how food shortages have caused unrest and even riots in many countries. The story also notes rice exporters are holding back to take care of domestic needs, causing rice-importing countries further woe. Examples: Egypt instituted a six-month ban on rice exports; Vietnam cut rice exports by a quarter; India banned exporting all but the most expensive rice.