Looking Ahead: Water, Life and the Environment in the Twenty-first Century

This paper establishes the broad context for the research results reported in this special volume. It explores some of the broad technical, social, and economic forces that will influence water management and demand and supply of water in the twenty-first century. IWMI's work will contribute to a broader global effort, preparing a "Vision for Water, Life and the Environment in the Twenty-first Century", launched recently by the World Water Council. The world will have to go beyond the application of current thinking and creatively apply combinations of new technologies with principles like participation, devolution of authority, and pricing to cope with water scarcity equitably and effectively.