What Happens When India's Water Runs Out?

Peter Zeihan 3 min

We are looking at a water-driven calorie deficit in India within a decade or two that is just simply difficult to wrap your mind around. And it is nothing compared to the third one.

Chapters

  1. 0:30

    The Slide Canyon Context

    A mountain gave way and slid forward, gaining enough momentum to work partway back up the other side. The group is going around this slide rather than over it because they are not stupid. This setting introduces the second part of a video on fossil water.

  2. 1:11

    India's Punjab Aquifer Crisis

    Northern India has been doing industrial water extraction for over 70 years, including using aid money to drill wells. Solar power now allows anyone to buy a pump, adding millions of new taps to the aquifer. The entire thing is expected to be drained in less than 15 years, maybe as little as 10.

Key points

  • 0:30

    The mountain just gave way and slid forward and came all the way down to the bottom.

  • 0:30

    This is an area that has been doing industrial water extraction for the better part of 70 years.

  • 0:30

    Localities have used things like aid money to drill their own wells.

  • 0:30

    Anyone can buy like a two-kilowatt solar system and have a small pump for their own personal use.

  • 0:30

    We are now looking at the entire thing being drained in probably less than 15 years, maybe as little as 10.

  • 0:30

    The one in Punjab supports hundreds of millions of people.

  • 0:30

    We are looking at a water-driven calorie deficit in India within a decade or two that is just simply difficult to wrap your mind around.

On the map

Map of the places in “What Happens When India's Water Runs Out?”

Who and where

Places · 3

  • Punjab 2
  • India 2
  • Slide Canyon 1

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