Global water bankruptcy is here, UN report says

A UN report says many critical water systems are already 'bankrupt', and it reports that about 75% of people live in countries classed as water-insecure or critically water-insecure.

The UN report describes a pattern it labels as 'global water bankruptcy', saying many human water systems have been used faster than they can be replenished and some long-term stores have been lost. It links over-extraction and pollution of rivers, soils, aquifers and wetlands with increasing climate-driven variability. The lead author warned that enough critical systems have crossed thresholds to alter global water risk and affect food supplies and social stability. Key facts: - The report states around 75% of people live in countries classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure. - It reports about 2 billion people live on land that is sinking as groundwater aquifers collapse. - Water-related conflicts rose from 20 in 2010 to more than 400 in 2024, and several major rivers now fail to reach the sea. - The report notes wetlands equal in size to the European Union have been lost in recent decades and many large lakes have shrunk. Summary: The report links declines in water systems to risks for food production, urban stability and international cohesion. It calls for a fundamental reset of how water rights and water-intensive sectors are managed and used, including changes in agriculture and industry to reflect degraded supplies. Undetermined at this time.