The world is facing a water crisis that’s only getting worse. Now, a new international study shows it’s not just a lack of access to safe drinking water that’s on the line, but access to food, as well.
Researchers with the Global Commission on the Economics of Water found more than half the world’s food production will be at risk of failure by 2049 unless urgent action is taken now to conserve water sources. According to the report, demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40% by the end of 2029 because the world’s water systems are being put under “unprecedented stress.”
The commission said governments and experts have vastly underestimated the amount of water needed for people to have decent lives. Researchers said while between 13 and 26 gallons of water are needed per day for each person’s health and hygiene, people actually require a little more than 1,000 gallons a day to have adequate nutrition.
Researchers said for most parts of the world, that volume cannot be achieved locally, meaning people are dependent on trade to meet their needs. The report calls out northwestern India, northeastern China and eastern and southern Europe, specifically. It said nearly 3 billion people are living in areas experiencing unstable water trends and several cities sinking because of the loss of below-ground water.
Researchers emphasized the immediate need for making certain changes, like decreasing food waste, rehabilitating wetlands, establishing sustainable water use goals for companies and accurately determining the cost of water.
