Statistics: Tunisians are the least satisfied with water quality on a regional and global scale (2/2)
By
Mohammad Ben Abderrazek | April 07, 2023 at 6:58 PM
In 2022, 85% of Tunisians were dissatisfied with the efforts made to preserve the environment in their country, which brings them closer to the Lebanese as the most dissatisfied in the world, according to The Gallup Organization which
is an American establishment present in 27 countries across 40 offices offering a package of research services relating to management, human resources management and statistics.
According to a survey by Gallup and Northwestern University – the Individual Experiences of Water Insecurity Scale (
IWISE ) – just over a quarter of southern Tunisians (27%) worried almost monthly about not not have enough water for their needs, much higher than in the rest of the country.
In July 2022, the United Nations urgently demanded that Tunisia improve its water quality by stopping the exploitation of the aquifer and prioritizing quality drinking water, not irrigation. crops or phosphate production.
Double economic and environmental crisis
The UN call goes to the heart of the challenge facing Tunisia: the need to protect both its environment and its economy.
In an attempt to stem the water crisis and a wider economic malaise, the government has raised water prices for the biggest consumers and urged farmers to stop irrigating vegetables to focus on crops. major grain exports. As a result, vegetable prices rose sharply, contributing to high inflation.
In this climate, Tunisians are deeply pessimistic about the state of their economy. Three times as many people think the economy is getting worse (63% vs. 18%). Less than one in 10 (9%) think now is a good time to find a job.
Fight for climate justice
Pessimism about the state of the natural environment and water supply in Tunisia is closely linked to the institutional and economic landscape.
Many Tunisians are under the effect of growing discontent. Pollution-related social movements led to the closure of phosphate production sites in Redeyef and Oum Larayes in 2020.
Activists gathered ahead of the UN climate conference in Egypt to fight for 'climate justice'. The conference will be held in the United Arab Emirates in November-December 2023, bringing the global attention of the climate community to the Middle East for the second consecutive year.
If there is a silver lining in Tunisia according to Galupp, it is the growing calls from Tunisians for environmental improvements. Decisive changes at this level are necessary if “Green Tunisia” is to live up
to its name.
En 2022, 85% des tunisiens étaient insatisfaits des efforts déployés pour préserver l'environnement dans leur pays, ce qui les rapproche des libanais
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