Water bankruptcy is the UN's new description of global water risk

A 72-page UN report, prepared with Canada, describes a new era of 'water bankruptcy,' saying many freshwater systems are irreversibly depleted and that 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water; the report was published ahead of a January 26 planning meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

A United Nations report published with the Government of Canada describes a new era of "water bankruptcy," saying current language does not capture irreversible losses in some freshwater systems. The authors report that enough critical water systems have crossed into long-term depletion to present a worldwide risk. The report notes widespread groundwater depletion and that 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water. It was released ahead of a January 26 planning meeting in Dakar for the 2026 UN Water Conference. Key findings: - The report introduces the term "water bankruptcy" to distinguish irreversible or long-term losses from reversible "water stress" or temporary emergencies. - Regions highlighted as especially affected include the Middle East and North Africa, parts of South Asia, and the American Southwest. - The report states that about half of domestic water use and over 40% of irrigation rely on groundwater, and many aquifers are being depleted faster than they refill; 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. - It cites large environmental and economic impacts, reporting about 410 million hectares of wetlands lost over 50 years and placing a monetary value on lost wetland services and annual drought costs. Summary: The report says many freshwater systems have been pushed beyond sustainable limits and that water quality and long-term depletion reduce usable supplies. It calls for a shift from short-term crisis responses toward long-term management of systemic water shortfalls, and it was published ahead of a January 26 planning meeting in Dakar that prepares for the UN Water Conference scheduled for December 2–4, 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.