Much of the World Facing 'Water Bankruptcy,' U.N. Report Warns
20 days ago
- #water crisis
- #sustainability
- #climate change
- Global fresh water reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replenished, leading to 'water bankruptcy.'
- Countries are overusing not just annual water supplies but also vital reservoirs like aquifers, wetlands, and glaciers, which may be irreversibly lost.
- Over 40% of irrigation water comes from draining aquifers, with more than 70% of global aquifers in decline.
- The world has lost over 1.5 million square miles of wetlands and seen glaciers shrink by more than 30% in the past 50 years.
- 3 billion people live in regions with unstable or declining water storage, and pollution is making much of the remaining water unusable.
- Hot spots for water bankruptcy include the Middle East, South Asia, and the U.S. Southwest due to drought and unsustainable farming practices.
- The U.N. report calls for urgent action to prevent further loss of natural water reservoirs ahead of a major water meeting in Dakar, Senegal.