Over 4.4bn people to face water scarcity by 2050

United Nations, March 23

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that without further efforts, between 3.5 and 4.4 billion people in the world will live with limited access to water, with more than 1 billion of them in major cities. In his message on World Water Day, which falls on March 22, the UN chief said that “the world’s water resources are under unprecedented threat”.

“Today, some 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 4.2 billion people live without access to adequate sanitation. Unless we act with urgency, the impacts of climate change are projected to exacerbate these figures,” he said.

Noting that this year’s World Water Day focuses on water and climate change, the Secretary-General said that “with 2020 a make-or-break year for climate action, this focus is timely”.

“Water is the primary medium through which we perceive the effects of climate disruption, from extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, to glacial melting, saltwater intrusion and sea level rise,” he added.

“Global heating and unsustainable use will create unprecedented competition for water resources, leading to the displacement of millions of people. This will negatively affect health and productivity and act as a threat multiplier,” said the UN chief.

He further said “we must urgently scale up investments in healthy watersheds and water infrastructure, with dramatic improvements in efficiency of water use”. —IANS

Time to urgently step up efforts

• World Water Day is an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources
• The UN chief asked all people to play a role to help alleviate the shortage of water