Nagpur: According to United Nation’s agency report, more than 5 billion people across the globe are expected to face shortage of water by the year 2050.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on Tuesday said that climate change increases the global risk of water-related hazards like floods and droughts. It also stated that the number of people affected by water scarcity is also expected to soar in the coming years.
As per a report titled “The State of Climate Services 2021: Water” said that 3.6 billion people had inadequate access to water at least one month per year in 2018. It is expected to rise to more than five billion by 2050.
The report also highlighted the urgent need to improve cooperative water management and the climate policies. WMO chief Petteri Taalas said “We need to wake up to the looming water crisis.” The report comes ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference which will be held at Glasgow from October 21 to November 12.
The WMO also stressed upon the fact that since the last 20 years, the levels of water stored on land—on the surface, snow and ice had dropped at the rate of one centimeter per year.
According to the WMO, the biggest losses have been witnessed in Antarctica and Greenland, but highly populated lower latitude locations are also experiencing significant water losses in the areas.
“Increasing temperatures are resulting in global and regional precipitation changes, leading to shifts in rainfall patterns and agricultural seasons, with a major impact on food security and human health and well-being,” said Taalas.
