Water is our most precious natural resource and it is vital that we manage it in a way that meets our needs and the needs of future generations. Water is something that we take for granted and we need a more sustainable approach to how we use water in order to protect our supply.
ACT VITY
(a) Make a list of small changes we can make in our daily lives to reduce our consumption of water. Work in pairs.
(b) Do you think Irish people should pay for the water they use? Discuss everyone’s views in class and conduct a class vote.
Water and the sustainable development goals
In 2015, world leaders agreed that we all need to work together to make sure that people around the world can live better lives without damaging the planet. States will work towards achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development between 2015 and 2030.
PORTFOLIO ACT VITY 4.1
Go to page 16 of your Portfolio to learn about Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) of the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and write a letter to your TD about it.
DID YOU KNOW? March 22nd is World Water Day.
Irrigation
In Ireland there is no shortage of rainfall. However, some parts of the world can go through long periods of drought when there is a shortage of rainfall.
Irrigation is the artificial watering of the land. It is done to help crops grow in areas where there is a shortage of rainfall. There are many examples of irrigation schemes throughout the world.
( Figure 4.6 Irrigation can enable people to grow crops that need a lot of water, even in dry climates
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Primary Economic Activities: How we use the world’s natural resources