5 Billion People Will Face Water Shortages by 2050, U.N. Says
Currently, 3.6 billion people around the world experience water shortages lasting at least one month each year. The State of Global Water Resources report published in November 2022 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, reveals that 5 billion people worldwide will face such a shortage by 2050.[1] The report is unique in that it assesses climate, environmental, and societal impacts on freshwater water resources globally. The information provided by the report is meant to support a greater understanding of the changes occurring to those resources and assist decision-making toward their sustainable management.
The report asserts that climate change is often felt through water. Climate change directly exacerbates water stress, making weather less predictable, its impact evident in glacial melting, flooding, inconsistent rainfall patterns, and drought. Further, “each 1°C increase caused by global warming is projected to result in a 20 percent reduction in renewable water resources.”[2] The report provides projections regarding river flows, floods, and droughts for each continent, and a key takeaway is the deepening disparate nature of water security throughout the world. The UN estimates that half of the world’s population will live in areas of high water stress by the year 2030. Global impacts of water shortages include increased conflict and threats to national security, increased exposure to deadly water-borne illnesses, decreased food and energy production, and other social and economic ramifications.
Understanding changes in the distribution, quantity, quality, and demand for freshwater is necessary for future planning. This is the first annual report of the State of Global Water Resources and based on its findings the WMO recommends increasing the availability and sharing of verified hydrological data toward better integrated management of resources worldwide. The WMO also recommends developing an early warning system for climate events, such as drought and floods. Further, the assessment is intended to support policy decisions regarding water resources at the local, national, and international levels and to steer investment strategies that navigate the consequences of climate change. As additional reports are released, comparisons will be available across years, facilitating a better understanding of both short-term and long-term impacts on water.
[1] “State of Global Water Resources 2021.” World Meteorological Organization, 29 Nov. 2022, https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/water/state-of-global-water-resources.
[2] “Climate Change Threatening Access to Water and Sanitation | UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, 20 May 2022, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1118722.