GLOBAL WATER CRISIS

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Context:

‘The Economics of Water: Valuing the Hydrological Cycle as a Global Common Good’, the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) says the water crisis puts at risk more than half of the world’s food production by 2050.

Key Facts

Four billion people — almost two-thirds of the world’s population —  experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate. Half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025. Some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030. By 2040, roughly 1 in 4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress.

Key Findings of the Report

Areas	Details
Global Water Crisis	Growing water disaster due to mismanagement and undervaluation of water resources; imbalance in the hydrological cycle for the first time in human history.
Freshwater Availability	Freshwater ecosystems and resources are heavily damaged, threatening future availability.
Impact on Ecosystems and Human Health	Imbalance in the hydrological cycle has severe impacts on ecosystems, food systems, and human health, with over 1,000 children dying daily from unsafe water and sanitation.
Water Scarcity in Food Systems	Food systems are running out of fresh water, threatening global food security.
Aquifer Depletion	Cities are sinking as underground aquifers dry up, especially in densely populated regions like northwestern India, northeastern China, and parts of Europe.
Water Storage Decline	Global water storage is declining, particularly in areas with high population density and economic activity.
Need for Revaluation of Water	Urgent call to revalue water as a critical planetary resource and manage the hydrological cycle as a global common good.
Equity in Water Management	Justice and equity in water distribution are necessary for food security, human dignity, and a sustainable Earth system.
Revolution in Food Systems	A new revolution in food systems is needed, along with a goal to prevent child deaths from unsafe water by 2030.
Circular Water Economy	Establish a circular water economy and conserve/restor natural habitats critical to green water protection.

The report also recommends three key actions for effective water management

1) Forge partnerships between public and private sectors to ensure efficient, equitable, and sustainable water use.

2) Increase financial support for water management across all sectors, focusing on quantity, quality, and reliability.

3) Develop global water governance that values water as a central principle, recognizing it as both a local and global issue, and addressing the hydrological cycle as a collective and systemic challenge.

What is water scarcity?

Water scarcity is defined as a water deficiency or a lack of safe water supplies. As the population of the world grows and the environment becomes further affected by climate change, access to fresh drinking water dwindles.

Globally, 785 million people lack access to clean drinking water. Every day, over 800 children die from dirty water, due to diarrhoea caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene and scarce or unreliable water and sanitation facilities in many communities around the world.

Causes of Water Shortage

Droughts and Climate Change: Water shortages occur due to a number of factors; one of the biggest drivers of water scarcity is drought. E.g. In the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, climate scientists say that groundwater stored in aquifers, which provides 36% of the world’s domestic water supply for over 2 billion people, is highly sensitive to future climate change. 

Poor Water Management and Growing Demand: Today, the world’s population is just short of eight billion people, which translates to a growing demand for water amid water stress from climate change. 

Case study: In 2018, Cape Town, South Africa experienced a water crisis and became the first modern city to effectively run out of drinking water as a result of extreme drought, poor water resource management and overconsumption.

Water Pollution: Contaminated and unsafe water is another contributing factor of water shortages. Water pollution already kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined.  Only less than 1% of the Earth’s freshwater is accessible. 

Water pollution can come from several sources, including sewage and wastewater – more than 80% of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated, and agricultural and industrial runoff. 

Effects of Water Shortage

Food Insecurity: Today, around 70% of freshwater withdrawals go into agriculture, from irrigation and pesticide to fertiliser application and sustaining livestock. 

As the global population continues to grow, agricultural production is required to expand by another 70% by 2050 to keep up with demand, thereby redirecting even more freshwater resources.

Increased Human Conflicts: One of the biggest effects of water shortage is that it prompts increased competition between water users, thus potentially sparking conflicts, which could potentially put millions of lives at risk. 

For example: India has conflicted with its neighbouring country of Pakistan over water disputes, among other political issues. The two nations have clashed over the control of upstream water barrages and infrastructure projects for decades, which regulated water flow into Pakistan. 

What is World Vision’s 2030 goal for its water program to help overcome the global water crisis?

World Vision’s goal is that by 2030 all communities located within our development areas worldwide will have access to safe water (defined as a 30-minute or less round-trip walk to the water source), adequate sanitation, hand-washing facilities and menstrual hygiene facilities, as well as hygiene promotion and behavior change.

The global WASH program will specifically promote the inclusion of the most vulnerable men, women and children. It will ensure that people with disabilities, those affected by HIV and AIDS, and other vulnerable groups in each area are actively included and benefit from hygiene messaging and increased access to sustainable safe water and improved sanitation.

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Source:

NDTV

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.The global water crisis has emerged as a significant challenge, driven by factors such as climate change, and poor water management. Discuss the key causes and implications of the global water crisis and how can international cooperation play a role in ensuring sustainable water management. (250 words)