Socioeconomic Significance of Asian Water Tower in High Asia Region

Authors

WANG Xiaoming, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
ZHANG Jinglin, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
LIU Shiwei, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
LI Chenyu, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
KONG Weiming, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Keywords

Asian Water Tower (AWT); High Asia; socioeconomic effects; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Asian Water Tower (AWT) provides population in High Asia and broader areas in downstream with critical water resource, creating significant socioeconomic values. It is also unreplaceable in regional economic development in central and south Asia. Moreover, the associated region is an example of regional development to share the common future in Road and Belt Initiatives. This article shed a light on and provides various examples about AWT's socioeconomic effects in High Asia Region. Not only does it support the regional development, but also the competition for AWT's water resources due to its increasing scarcity in dryland would potentially bring in conflicts. That would become even more uncertain and challenging when the deterioration of AWT is considered as a result of climate change. It would then fundamentally change the future development in High Asia Region. Therefore, it is urgent to respond and adapt to the change by developing sustainable pathways. This article further address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are most concerned by the countries in High Asia Region, and illustrate the relations of the cryosphere services of AWT to the implementation of SDGs.

First page

1332

Last Page

1340

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Recommended Citation

Xiaoming, WANG; Jinglin, ZHANG; Shiwei, LIU; Chenyu, LI; and Weiming, KONG (2019) "Socioeconomic Significance of Asian Water Tower in High Asia Region," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 34 : Iss. 11 , Article 14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.2019.11.016
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol34/iss11/14