A recent report from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water has warned that more than half of the world’s food production could be at risk within the next 25 years due to a rapidly accelerating water crisis. The report highlights that half of the world’s population already faces water scarcity, a number set to rise as the climate crisis worsens. The demand for fresh water is expected to outstrip supply by 40% by the end of the decade.
One key finding of the report is that people require about 4,000 liters of water a day to have adequate nutrition and a dignified life, far more than previously estimated. The report also emphasizes the interconnected nature of water systems globally, with water moving around the world in atmospheric rivers that transport moisture and contribute to rainfall.
Experts have identified harmful subsidies in the agricultural and industrial sectors that distort water systems, with over $700 billion of subsidies each year going to agriculture alone. Realistic pricing for water and better targeted subsidies are suggested as solutions to address this issue.
The report also points out the outsized impact of the water crisis on women and girls, highlighting the need for policy reforms to address issues such as access to safe water and sanitation, as well as ending the destruction of natural ecosystems that play a vital role in the hydrological cycle.
Overall, the report underscores the urgent need for coordinated global action to address the water crisis, with a focus on conservation, equity, and sustainability to ensure a secure future for water resources on a global scale.
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