Harvesting of Antarctic icebergs: Melted dreams?

Abstract

By 2040, global water demand will outstrip supply by 30%. Every 20 years global water consumption doubles. With increasing population growth in developing countries and climate change placing pressure on water resources there will be an increasing demand for the importation of water. Antarctica's icebergs have in the past been viewed as a potential source of freshwater but the feasibility is technically challenging and the cost high. With growing pressure on water resources globally, Antarctica's icebergs are likely to be viewed in the future as a feasible source of freshwater. However, there are numerous issues both legal and technical regarding the harvesting of icebergs. This study will review the ownership of Antarctic icebergs and the technical issues of towing Antarctic icebergs for harvesting.