The resource that threatens global peace.
In a talk given at the headquarters of a Spanish oil company, the renowned archaeologist and co-director of the Atapuerca site until last year, Eudald Carbonell , issued a warning that resonates strongly: the true conflict of the future will not be over energy, but over drinking water . Far from being an isolated prophecy, his assertion is supported by recent research, such as the report published in Science Advances in July 2025 that warns of the critical state of freshwater worldwide. This article analyzes the problem from a global and human perspective, addressing water imbalances, potential geopolitical tensions, and technological or structural solutions that could mitigate the risk of water conflicts in the 21st century.
