UN warns of water crisis by year 2030
Print Edition
WITHOUT reforms, the world will be plunged into a water crisis that could be crippling for hot, dry countries, the United Nations warned yesterday.
In a report, the UN said that abuse of water was now so great that, on current trends, the world be facing “global water deficit” of 40 percent by 2030 — the gap between people’s demand for water and the replenishment of it.
“The fact is there is enough water to meet the world’s needs, but not without dramatically changing the way water is used, managed and shared,” it said in its annual World Water Development Report.
“Measurability, monitoring and implementation” are urgently needed to make water use sustainable, said Michel Jarraud, head of the agency UN-Water and the World Meteorological Organization.
Surging population growth is one of the biggest drivers behind the potential crisis, the report said.
Earth’s current tally of around 7.3 billion humans is growing by about 80 million per year, reaching a likely 9.1 billion by 2050.
To feed these extra mouths, agriculture, which already accounts for around 70 percent of all water withdrawals, will have to increase output by some 60 percent.
In the North China Plain, intensive irrigation has caused the water table to drop by over 40 meters in some places, the report said.
Climate change — which will alter when, where and how much rainfall comes our way — and urbanization will add to the problem.
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