In a new report from the Institute of Water Resources at the United Nations University, it is stated that humanity is entering a period that can be characterized as "global water bankruptcy." According to the UN, about 75% of the world's population, which amounts to approximately 6.1 billion people, live in areas with unstable or extremely limited freshwater supplies.
Every year, nearly 4 billion people face significant water shortages for at least one month.
Since the 1990s, half of the largest lakes on the planet have been losing their water resources, 70% of major aquifers are experiencing long-term depletion, and over 40% of the water used for irrigation comes from depleting sources. Over the past 50 years, the total area of wetlands has decreased by nearly 410 million hectares, and the mass of glaciers in several regions has reduced by more than 30%.
The water crisis manifests itself differently in various parts of the world: in the Middle East and North Africa, it is exacerbated by climate risks and low agricultural productivity; in South Asia, by intensive irrigation use and rapid urbanization; and in the southwestern United States, by chronic water resource shortages in the Colorado River basin.
UN representatives emphasize that the main issue is not the total amount of water, but the inefficient management of water resources. Experts strongly urge that the water crisis becomes a central issue in political decisions, to develop a global monitoring system, and to abandon projects that harm aquatic ecosystems.
