6 billion people could suffer from water scarcity by 2050

The UN presented a report on the prospects for the use of global water resources
By 2050, nearly 6 billion people around the world could be affected by water scarcity, according to the UN Water Report. Among the risk factors, researchers indicate, in particular, change in climate and pollutions of water bodies. According to the report of the authors, the most effective and cost-effective measures to provide the population with quality water are represented by solutions in the environmental field. This includes, for example, the recovery of forests and the strengthening of coastal areas.
Today, about 3.6 billion people around the world are potentially going to be affected by water shortages, and by 2050 this number will increase to 4.8-5.7 billion people due to climate changes, increased demand for this nature resource and pollution of water bodies. This was said in the UN report on the condition of natural water resources, which was presented on March 19 at the annual World Water Forum in Brazil. Authors of the report expect that the world’s population by the mentioned period time will grow to 9.4-10.2 billion people.
Among the key reasons for the increase in with water management problems, the authors of the report mentioned the degradation of natural systems.
Drought and desertification caused by land degradation have already affected 1.8 billion people all over the world.
In particular, the report refers to the degradation of the 2/3 of all forested lands, as well as to the loss of about 70% of wetlands since 1990 caused by human activities.
According to the authors of the report global water consumption was estimated at 4.6 thousand cubic kilometers per year, of which 70% falls on agricultural sector, 20% — on industry and 10% is accounted consumption. At the same time, the demand for water resources is increasing by 1% annually due to such factors as global population growth, economic development and changes in consumption patterns. In future, according to the study, it will grow even faster, especially in developed and emerging economies.
How charitable organizations offer to solve the challenge of the water supply and qualitative features of water
The report notes that conservation measures and green infrastructure are more effective and cheap instruments for ensuring water quality compared to the process of its further purification. For example, reforestation, construction of wooden buffers along river banks, and creation of artificial wetlands can prevent pollution of water resources. Today, such measures deserve much more due attention, according to the authors. Examples of successful environmental management include India, where an area affected by drought and low groundwater levels in the 1980s was resoiled and reforested, especially around watersheds. As a result, the groundwater level rose by six meters, the soils to moisture retainment capability of the soil increased by 33%, and rivers stopped drying up.
The study outlines that in a number of cases, especially when restoring landscapes that have been subjected to desertification, environmentally motivated water resource management may become a basic solution. However, in most cases it is proposed to find a compromise between natural and infrastructural solutions to maximize efficiency of the water management system. For example, Chinese government has already initiated a city project in which such concept is implemented: widespread use of green spaces is envisaged for arrangement of roofs, permeable sidewalks, along with the parallel restoration of rivers and wetlands. According to the plan, with the project implementation, 70% of the water needs in every fifth region of China by 2020 shall be covered by rainwater.
Source: kommersant.ru