CHASING ICEBERGS

A fascinating exploration of the potential use of icebergs to help solve the world’s fresh water crisis.

Law professor Birkhold examines the possibility of harvesting fresh water from icebergs, a process that could be game-changing as increasing numbers of people are unable to access clean water. According to a report by Water Resources Group, “by 2030 global demand for freshwater will exceed supply by 40 percent.” Furthermore, “107 countries will lack a sustainably managed water source, and two thirds of the world’s population will face regular water shortages.” Given that two-thirds of the world’s fresh water is locked in ice caps and glaciers, Birkhold began pondering the legalities and viability of harvesting this pure water. During the course of his research, the author traveled to meet with numerous experts, including the chief scientist at the International Ice Patrol, who stressed the dangers of moving icebergs; an iceberg “cowboy” who has been gathering iceberg water for breweries since the 1990s; workers on oil platforms, who must sometimes navigate dangerous encounters with icebergs; and a native Greenlander who helped the author “to understand how the deep cultural connection to icebergs resonates with the potential commoditization of the resource.” Birkhold also looks at the possibility of towing icebergs. While it may be feasible, doing so would also be expensive and would likely lead to further detrimental effects on the environment, including changing the natural course of ecosystems and releasing more carbon dioxide into the environment. “Just because humans can do great things,” he writes, “does not necessarily mean that we should…it is important to think critically about what we do with icebergs now, before we are enchanted by their charms and stunned by our own ingenuity.” While the benefits may outweigh the risks, Birkhold warns that harvesting icebergs should be approached with caution in order to avoid a “Cold Rush” free-for-all.

A simultaneously compelling and alarming examination of an important part of the Earth’s biosphere.