Water bankruptcy: UN report says the world has moved beyond safe freshwater limits

A 72-page UN report, produced with the Government of Canada, states the world is in an era of 'global water bankruptcy' and says freshwater systems have been pushed outside safe planetary boundaries.

A United Nations report published this week describes the current era as one of "global water bankruptcy." The report was prepared in partnership with the Government of Canada and Global Affairs Canada. It argues that commonly used terms such as "water stress" and "water crisis" do not capture irreversible water losses. The authors say some regions may not be able to return to historical baseline water levels. Key findings: - The report labels the period as "global water bankruptcy," saying many regions are living beyond their hydrological means. - It argues that terms like "water stress" and "water crisis" refer to reversible or temporary conditions and do not reflect irreversible losses. - The 72-page report was produced with the Government of Canada and Global Affairs Canada and is based on a paper that will appear in the journal Water Resources Management. Summary: The report states that freshwater has been pushed beyond a safe operating space alongside climate, biodiversity, and land-system pressures. The paper behind the report will be published in Water Resources Management; wider policy responses and specific actions are undetermined at this time.