The World Meteorological Organization, WMO, calls for urgent action to improve the management of water services and "increase investment in this precious commodity."  

According to WMO data, since 2000 there has been a 134% increase in flood-related disasters, while the duration of droughts has increased by 29%. The number of people suffering from these situations only increases, while management, weather forecasting and warning systems are still inadequate. 

Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the WMO, said that rising temperatures are causing changes in rainfall patterns and agricultural seasons. With this, the impact for food security and human health is very great.  

Taalas recalled that extreme weather events linked to water, such as excessive flooding in Japan, China, Indonesia, and Nepal have been increasingly constant. Millions of people have been left homeless and hundreds have died.  

In Europe, "catastrophic" floods have also caused many deaths and destruction of property. At the same time, the WMO chief pointed out that "water shortages remain a huge problem in many countries, especially in Africa. 

Data reveals that more than 2 billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Petteri Taalas said that the world needs to "wake up to the impending water crisis." 

Data from the report also shows that in 2018, 3.6 billion people faced inadequate access to water for at least one month in the year. But by 2050, 5 billion are predicted to be affected.  

In the last 20 years, the territorial water reserve has decreased by about 1cm per year. The main losses have occurred in Antarctica and Greenland.  

The WMO reveals that the situation is even worse, as only 0.5% of the water on Earth is fresh and ready for consumption. With this, the world is far behind the deadline for achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 6, which calls for access to water and sanitation for all.  

The report recommends increased investment in integrated water management resources, drought and flood forecasting systems, especially in less developed countries, and expanded data on climate services in the water sector.  

Source: UN News