The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), has issued a warning about the global water crisis that is looming due to climate change. The report states that by 2050, more than half of the world’s population could suffer from water shortages. The WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas, urges the world to wake up and face this impending water crisis. The effects of climate change are causing unusual flooding in some regions, while other areas are experiencing droughts and water shortages.
According to the WMO, floods and high water levels have increased by 134% globally since 2000, while droughts have increased by 29% in the same period. Two billion people live in countries with water problems and have no access to clean drinking water or wastewater disposal. This has resulted in approximately 3.6 billion people globally not having enough water for at least one month in 2018. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to more than five billion people, affecting more than half of the world’s population.
The WMO scientists also warn that the world’s water reserves, such as lakes, basins, groundwater, and soil moisture, have significantly decreased in the last 20 years, with the most significant losses occurring in Antarctica and Greenland. Despite this, water resources in more than 100 countries are poorly managed. The experts are calling on those responsible to regularly measure the levels needed to predict floods and droughts. This will also help achieve the UN development goals, which aim to provide the entire world population with clean drinking water and wastewater disposal by 2030.
In conclusion, the WMO’s report highlights the urgent need for action to address the global water crisis caused by climate change. The world must take immediate steps to manage water resources better and provide access to clean drinking water and wastewater disposal to all. Failure to do so will have severe consequences for the world’s population, with more than half of the world’s people facing water shortages by 2050.
