Who will solve Mexico’s water shortage crisis?

Television

Published: 01 May. 2024, 19:51 Updated: 02 May. 2024, 10:52

Who will solve Mexico’s water shortage crisis?

AHN CHAK-HEE
The author is the head of the global cooperation team at the JoongAng Ilbo.

Unusual candidates in Mexico’s political scene are competing over a new topic. A general election for more than 20,000 officials, including lawmakers and local government heads nationwide, is to be held on June 2. It is the biggest election since the federal government was established in 1824.

The most noteworthy position on the ballot is, of course, the president. The world’s attention is on Mexico as the two most likely candidates are women in their 60s.

The two female politicians are 62-year-old Claudia Sheinbaum of ruling left-wing Morena, who is a former Mexico City mayor, and 61-year-old Xóchitl Gálvez of the right-wing opposition alliance Broad Front for Mexico. They are of similar age, have science and engineering backgrounds and pledge to actively address environmental issues.

In addition to complicated economic, drug and safety issues, Mexico’s urgent problem is a chronic water shortage. The drought has continued for more than 10 years as precipitation has been declining due to El Nino. More than 80 percent of the land is suffering from a drought, and the water level in reservoirs across the country has decreased to 40 percent.

Residents suffer from constant water shutdowns. The residents in Chiapas in southeastern Mexico, where the situation is the worst, consume the most amount of Coca-Cola in the world. Due to a lack of drinking water, people drink Coca-Cola produced at local factories instead of water. Sometimes, even babies are given bottles filled with Coke. It is terrible.

Sheinbaum, who contributed to the climate change mitigation report in response to the water shortage and received the Nobel Peace Prize, proposes a 30-year sustainable water-use plan. She pledges to take comprehensive action in all areas, including agriculture, industry and service industries.

Meanwhile, Galvez argues that the ruling party, represented by Sheinbaum, has failed to resolve the water shortage over the past six years, and if elected president, she would expand waterworks nationwide and restore leakages on existing pipes.

Half of Mexico’s 120 million people do not have access to safe water. It is uncertain whether the plans presented by the two candidates can resolve the water shortage soon. Nevertheless, one certain thing is that no matter who wins, the election of the first ever female president of Mexico is imminent. It remains to be seen whether the challenge unsolved by countless men will be solved by a woman’s leadership.