Report: One in four people globally face extreme water scarcity I DW News

DW News

16 Aug 202305:52

Summary

TLDRA new report by the World Resources Institute highlights the global water crisis, with a quarter of the world's population lacking access to sufficient water. The crisis, exacerbated by climate change, is especially severe in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Increasing competition for water threatens agriculture, industry, and households. While water demand in the U.S. and Europe may plateau, these regions still face water stress. Solutions include tackling climate change, improving water infrastructure, and financial support for low-income countries to manage sustainable water resources.

Takeaways

🚨 A new report warns that a quarter of the world's population lacks enough water to meet basic needs for drinking, agriculture, and industry.
🔥 Burning coal, oil, and gas is intensifying the climate crisis, leading to more extreme heatwaves and droughts, exacerbating water scarcity.
💧 Water scarcity is expected to worsen globally, leading to increased competition for resources, potentially cutting off access to water for essential needs like power generation, food production, and households.
🌍 The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are the most affected regions, with all people in the region predicted to face extreme water stress by 2050.
🇮🇳 Countries in South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are also hotspots for water stress.
🌱 Excessive water consumption by agriculture and industry, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is a major factor in the crisis, with water use in this region expected to double in coming decades.
🚱 More than half of all countries lack sustainable water management practices, posing severe risks to agriculture and local economies.
🛠 Improving water infrastructure and reducing waste is essential, as 30% of global freshwater is lost through leaks and poor systems.
♻️ There is significant potential to improve water treatment and reuse, especially in low-income countries, to prevent the contamination of natural water resources like rivers and lakes.
💰 Low-income countries facing severe debt crises are calling for financial support from rich nations and international institutions to invest in sustainable water management and adapt to climate change.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised in the report by the World Resources Institute?
-The report highlights that a quarter of the world's population lacks sufficient water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, and this problem is expected to worsen due to climate change and increasing demand.
How does burning fossil fuels contribute to the global water crisis?
-Burning coal, oil, and gas fuels climate change, which exacerbates water scarcity by intensifying heat waves and droughts, making water less available.
Which regions are currently the most affected by extreme water shortages?
-Countries in the Middle East and North Africa are the hardest hit, with predictions that by 2050, everyone in the region will suffer from extreme water stress. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are also considered hotspots.
Why is water consumption in sub-Saharan Africa expected to more than double in the coming decades?
-The increase in water consumption in sub-Saharan Africa is primarily due to the expansion of agriculture for export, which will demand more water despite the region being drought-stricken.
What are some solutions mentioned to prevent future water crises?
-The report suggests sustainable water use, improving water infrastructure to reduce waste, and reusing water through better water treatment systems, particularly in low-income countries.
What challenges do low-income countries face in managing water resources?
-Low-income countries are dealing with a debt crisis, making it difficult to access financial resources for investing in sustainable water management and climate adaptation.
What role do international financial institutions play in addressing the water crisis in low-income countries?
-Institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, dominated by rich countries, are being asked by low-income nations to provide financial support and greater flexibility so they can invest in sustainable water management.
Why is water scarcity expected to have severe implications for agriculture?
-Agriculture is heavily dependent on both the timing and quantity of water. With increasing water stress, there will be more competition for water resources, potentially leading to crop failures and food shortages.
What is the significance of improving water infrastructure according to the report?
-Improving water infrastructure is crucial because a large amount of treated water, approximately 30%, is wasted due to leaks in pipelines, representing a significant loss of fresh water, money, and energy.
Why is the issue of water scarcity not being adequately addressed in major climate discussions?
-Despite its importance, water scarcity is not being prioritized in major climate discussions like COP. Experts argue that it needs more attention as water is essential for addressing broader climate impacts.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Global Water Crisis: A Growing Concern

A new report highlights the alarming global water crisis, where a quarter of the world’s population faces water shortages for basic needs like drinking, agriculture, and industry. This issue is expected to worsen, exacerbated by climate change, with droughts and heatwaves making water even scarcer. The report warns of growing competition for water resources, leading to potential shortages for various sectors such as power production, food, and household use. Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian countries are already experiencing severe water stress, with the crisis set to worsen by 2050 due to both climate change and unsustainable water use in agriculture and industry. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable, with agricultural expansion contributing to rising water demand, which could more than double in the coming decades.

05:02

💧 Addressing Agricultural Water Needs

The report stresses the critical importance of sustainable water use to prevent crop failures and maintain agricultural productivity. However, many countries lack proper water management practices, leading to potential devastating consequences for agricultural industries reliant on timely and adequate water supplies. Climate discussions, such as the upcoming COP meetings, must prioritize water management, but it is often overlooked. Financial aid will be crucial for many water-stressed countries to manage the crisis, as time is running out to ensure everyone has access to the water they need.

🌍 Regional Water Challenges: Europe and the US

Despite predictions that water demand in the US and Europe will stabilize, these regions are not immune to water stress. Severe droughts in places like Southern Europe and the US highlight the ongoing challenges. Even though demand may plateau, these regions are still extracting more water than they can sustainably supply. Farmers in these regions have already protested water shortages, emphasizing the urgency of addressing water scarcity even in wealthier parts of the world.

🔧 Solutions: Limiting Climate Change and Fixing Infrastructure

Addressing water stress requires a multi-pronged approach. Limiting climate change is essential to curbing extreme droughts and heatwaves. Additionally, there is significant water waste due to poor infrastructure, with around 30% of freshwater lost to leaks. Improving infrastructure to reduce waste and increasing water treatment and reuse, especially in low-income countries, could help mitigate the crisis. By doing so, we can prevent further contamination of natural water sources like rivers and lakes, ensuring a more secure future water supply.

💰 Financial Challenges and Support for Low-Income Countries

Low-income countries face a financial burden that makes addressing the water crisis difficult. Many are already struggling with debt, limiting their ability to invest in climate adaptation and sustainable water management. These countries are calling for more financial support from international institutions like the World Bank and IMF, which are controlled by richer nations. They are also demanding direct financial aid from wealthier countries, which are historically responsible for much of the climate change driving the current crisis. This issue will be a key topic at the international climate conference in Dubai in December.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Water stress

Water stress refers to the situation where the demand for water exceeds the available amount or when poor quality restricts its use. In the video, it is discussed as a growing global issue, especially in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, where a quarter of the population is already facing extreme water shortages.

💡Climate change

Climate change is the long-term alteration in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. The video connects the burning of fossil fuels to climate change, highlighting how it worsens heatwaves and droughts, thus increasing water scarcity. The relationship between rising temperatures and water availability is a central theme.

💡Drought

Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. The video emphasizes the increasing threat of droughts as a direct consequence of climate change, causing competition over water resources and impacting agriculture, industry, and households.

💡Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of farming, including the cultivation of soil for growing crops and raising animals to provide food. In the video, agriculture is identified as one of the main sectors consuming excessive water, especially in drought-stricken regions like sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the need for more sustainable water use in agriculture to prevent crop failures.

💡Water infrastructure

Water infrastructure refers to the systems of pipes, treatment plants, and reservoirs that deliver and manage water. The video points out that a significant amount of water—about 30%—is wasted globally due to leaks in water infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improvements to reduce waste and ensure water reaches its intended destination.

💡Global North

The Global North refers to developed countries, typically located in the northern hemisphere, including the U.S. and Europe. The video suggests that while water demand in the Global North will plateau in the coming decades, these regions still face water stress due to over-extraction and droughts, especially in southern Europe.

💡MENA region

MENA stands for the Middle East and North Africa. This region is highlighted in the video as one of the most severely affected by water scarcity, with predictions that by 2050, the entire region will suffer from extreme water stress due to climate change and other factors.

💡Sustainable water use

Sustainable water use means managing water resources in ways that meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video stresses that more than half of the world’s countries lack sustainable water use practices, which is crucial to prevent crop failures and ensure long-term water availability.

💡International financial institutions

International financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, provide financial support and advice to countries. The video discusses the role of these institutions in helping low-income countries invest in water infrastructure and sustainable development, especially in regions heavily affected by water stress.

💡Water reuse

Water reuse is the process of using treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as irrigation or industrial processes. The video highlights that there is significant potential in low-income countries to reuse water, which would reduce the contamination of natural water resources and help secure future water supplies.

Highlights

A quarter of the world's population lacks sufficient water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, and this number is set to increase.

Burning coal, oil, and gas is fueling the climate crisis, leading to higher temperatures, more intense heatwaves, and increasing droughts.

Water is becoming increasingly scarce globally, with more competition over resources, meaning some people will lose access to essential water supplies.

25 countries are already experiencing extreme water scarcity, severely impacting food access, local economies, and the population's well-being.

By 2050, all people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will experience extreme water stress.

South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are also identified as water stress hotspots.

Excessive water consumption in agriculture and industry, alongside climate change, is a significant driver of water scarcity.

Water consumption in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to more than double due to agricultural expansion, posing a critical challenge.

More than half of all countries lack sustainable water management, which could lead to dramatic crop failures.

Water stress is not limited to the global South; parts of Europe and the U.S. also face droughts and conflicts over water resources.

Improved water infrastructure is essential, as 30% of the world's freshwater is wasted through leaks in pipes.

There is significant potential for water reuse, especially in low-income countries, to prevent contamination of natural water sources.

Low-income countries face debt crises, limiting their ability to invest in sustainable water solutions and adapt to climate change.

These countries are calling on international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank for financial support to build sustainable water systems.

The discussion around financial support for water management will be a top priority at the upcoming climate conference in Dubai in December.