More than half the world’s population will live in water-stressed regions by 2050, a new United Nations report has revealed. Climate change will severely affect the availability of water for basic human needs and jeopardize access to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions, the UN World Water Development Report 2020 said. The report, released today on the occasion of World Water Day, called for immediate action and investment in the world’s most precious resource. “If we are serious about limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we must act immediately,” said Gilbert Houngbo, chairman of UN Water. “There are solutions for managing water and climate in a more coordinated manner and every sector of society has a role to play. We simply cannot afford to wait.” Water scarcity has already led to waves of migration and the Arab region is among the most vulnerable in the world to water shortages. Worldwide, there are four billion people who live with severe water scarcity for at least one month a year. To view the full article visit the National.
