Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

D E V E L O P I N G E N E R G Y T O M E E T D E V E L O P M E N T N E E D S / 2 4 9It is evident that the fortunes of the world’s human population,for better or for worse, are inextricably interrelated with the usethat is made of energy resources.M. King Hubbert, Resources and ManENERGY, ESPECIALLY IN ITS MOST COMMON FORM of electricity, iscentral to our daily lives and productive capacity. Yet manypeople live their lives without electrical power. As a result, theypay a heavy toll in health, time spent gathering alternative sources offuel for cooking, for example, and often gruelling labour. Water is usedin most means of generating power, and in many countries hydropoweris the only really sustainable source. This chapter assesses thecontribution that water makes to our lives and livelihoods throughenergy, and the impact that the production of energy has on peopleand the environment.