By Zoila Palma: The world has entered a new era of “global water bankruptcy” with irreversible consequences, according to a new report from the United Nations University.
The report argues that terms such as “water crisis” no longer capture the scale of the problem, warning that humanity is now using far more water than natural systems can replenish. Climate change, population growth and chronic over-extraction are pushing water systems beyond recovery in many regions.
From Afghanistan to the United States, the impacts are already visible. Kabul could become the first modern city to run out of water, while Mexico City is sinking rapidly as groundwater is over-pumped.
In the US Southwest, prolonged drought has intensified disputes over the shrinking Colorado River, exposing the fragility of water-sharing agreements based on outdated environmental conditions.
The concept of water bankruptcy likens water use to financial debt: rain and snow provide limited “income,” but rivers, lakes and aquifers are being depleted faster than they can recover.
The report documents stark losses, including declining aquifers worldwide, shrinking glaciers, disappearing wetlands and polluted freshwater supplies. More than half of the world’s large lakes have lost water since 1990, and nearly four billion people now experience water scarcity for at least part of each year.
Despite these realities, development continues in water-scarce regions, effectively increasing what the report describes as unsustainable “credit lines.” Cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Tehran have expanded even as water supplies tighten. According to the report’s author, Kaveh Madani, this approach delays difficult decisions until shortages become unavoidable, at which point the damage is far harder to reverse.
The report calls for a shift from short-term crisis management to long-term adaptation, including transforming agriculture, improving water monitoring, reducing pollution and protecting wetlands and groundwater.
While some experts caution that the term “water bankruptcy” may overstate the case, many agree the findings highlight an urgent need for action.
The post International News: World enters era of ‘Water bankruptcy’ as global supplies face irreversible decline appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The world has entered a new era of “global water bankruptcy” with irreversible consequences, according to a new report from the United Nations University. The report argues that terms such as “water crisis” no longer capture the scale of the problem, warning that humanity is now using far more water than natural
The post International News: World enters era of ‘Water bankruptcy’ as global supplies face irreversible decline appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.