World Bank’s new report “Water for Shared Prosperity,” released at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, highlights the alarming global water crisis and its implications for human and economic development worldwide.
Key Highlights of the Report
Alarming Water Scarcity Statistics
- Significant gaps exist in access to water and sanitation services globally. As of 2022, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation.
- Eight out of ten people without basic drinking water and sanitation services reside in rural areas.
Regional Disparities in Access to Water
- Disparity in Freshwater Distribution: China and India, with 36% of the global population, hold only 11% of freshwater, while North America, with 5% of the population, possesses 52%.
- Africa and Asia: The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds over half of Africa’s water resources, yet regions like the Sahel, Southeastern Africa, and South and Central Asia remain water-stressed.
- Low-Income Countries: These regions have seen a regression in access to safe drinking water, with an additional 197 million people lacking access since 2000.
- Marginalised Groups: Disparities in access also affect marginalized groups based on gender, location, ethnicity, race, and other social identities.
Impact of Climate Change
- Climate change intensifies water-related risks, with developing countries facing more severe and prolonged droughts and floods.
- Over 800 million people are at high risk of drought, and twice as many live in flood-prone areas.
- By 2100, meteorological drought is projected to impact 15% more of the global land area, increasing to nearly 50% when considering temperature effects.
- Central Europe, Asia, the Horn of Africa, India, North America, Amazonia, and central Australia will be the most affected.
- Poor populations are more exposed to water-related risks and have limited capacity to adapt, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
Human Capital and Economic Growth
- Access to water and sanitation services is crucial for educational attainment and overall human capital development.
- In low-income countries, 56% of jobs are in water-intensive sectors, which are highly sensitive to water availability.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, 62% of employment is in water-dependent jobs, with low rainfall significantly impacting GDP growth.
Social Cohesion and Conflict
- Effective and equitable water management fosters community trust and cooperation, whereas mismanagement can exacerbate conflicts.
- Proper water resource management contributes to peace and social cohesion by promoting inclusivity and reducing tensions.
Recommended Interventions for Sustainable Water Management
- Strengthening resilience to hydro-climatic risks for the poorest populations is crucial.
- Better development, management, and allocation of water resources are necessary.
- Promoting equitable and inclusive delivery of water services is essential for reducing poverty and increasing shared prosperity.
World Water Forum 2024
- The 2024 World Water Forum (10th WWF) is under the theme of Water for Shared Prosperity and is jointly organised by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Water Council.
- The World Water Council, established in 1996 and located in Marseille, is an international organisation with 260 member organisations from 52 countries including India.
- Its mission is to gather the international community to advocate for water as a political priority for sustainable and equitable development of the planet.
- The Forum is the world’s largest event organised, since 1997, every three years with a different host country.
- The Forum provides a unique platform for the water community and key decision-makers to collaborate and make long-term progress commitments on global water challenges to provide clean and fair water for all.