Water and Civilization: Resilience and Collapse
“Modern water infrastructure has replumbed the planet,” says Giulio Boccaletti, author of Water: A Biography. But the story of water is not technological, it is political. What can 10,000 years of human history with water teach us about how we should handle this essential element in a climate-disrupted future?
Climate One · Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
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Show Notes
Water is essential for life, and throughout history we have sought to control and make use of it. As Giulio Boccaletti explores in his new book, Water: A Biography, that relationship with water has underpinned human civilization, forming an integral part of society, government and land use systems. But despite its essential nature, access to water has never been equal or entirely fair.
Climate disruption will further destabilize the systems we’ve built to control water in our environment – even as it remains a public good without fair and equal public access. What can 10,000 years of history teach us about how we should handle water in our current and future climate?
Guests:
Giulio Boccaletti, Author, Water: A Biography
Sara Aminzadeh, Vice President of Partnerships, U.S. Water Alliance
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