The UN says the planet is facing a 40% shortfall in water supply by 2030, unless the world dramatically improves the management of this precious resource.

This is the conclusion reached in the 2015 United Nations World Water Development Report, “Water for a Sustainable World” launched in New Delhi ahead of World Water Day on 22 March.

The scope of the challenge is broadened as climate change impacts shift known patterns of water supply in many countries towards new extremes of flood and drought, underlining the fact that preventing worse climate change is at the heart of any workable solution to pressures on natural resources.

The report was published by the World Water Assessment Programme, which is hosted by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water. It stresses the urgent need to change the way we use and manage this vital resource, as the United Nations prepares to adopt new Sustainable Development Goals. UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova said:

This is a moment to chart a new course – to change practices and actions that favour development at a significant environmental and social cost, including pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and growing urban deprivation

As an inspiring example of action to safeguard water resources, the Stockholm International Water Institute awarded Rajendra Singh the 2015 Stockholm Water Prize for introducing rainwater harvesting techniques in Indian villages. When announcing the prize, the institute wrote:

Climate change is changing weather patterns around the world, leading to more frequent and intense droughts and floods. Learning how to harvest rainwater, cutting the peaks of water to fill the troughs, will be a key skill in most parts of the world.

Rajendra Singh with Indian villagers. Image by Tarun Bharat Sangh

Meanwhile, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has shone a light on the nexus between energy production and water. In a study published earlier this year, the agency points out that energy supply presently accounts for nearly 15% of global freshwater withdrawals.

IRENA says that renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and tidal energy are far less water intensive than fossil fuel options. During the power generation stage, solar photovoltaic or wind installations withdraw up to 200 times less water than a coal power plant to produce the same amount of electricity.

The chart below shows the percentage in water consumption and withdrawal between a business as usual development scenario and scenarios with increased renewable energy uptake in different regions of the world.

See the UN World Water Day website

See the UNESCO World Water Day web page

Image at top of article: UN Photo/Kibae Park