ASN: Around 26 per cent of the world’s population does not have safe drinking water, and 46 per cent lack access to safely managed sanitation, reveals a report published by UNESCO at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York.
As per the report, between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity.
The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7 to 2.4 billion people in 2050. The report said that the growing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts also stresses ecosystems, with dire consequences for both plant and animal species.
“There is an urgent need to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiralling out of control,” tweeted Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General. “Water is our common future, and it is essential to act together to share it equitably and manage it sustainably,” he added.
In addition, the study stated that the United Nations has called for increased international collaboration over the use of and management of water resources. It was stated that this is the only option to avoid a global water disaster in the future.