Earth is on the brink of a global WATER CRISIS: 2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water – and urgent action is needed, experts say
- Earth is on the brink of a global water crisis, warns a new UNESCO report
- Worldwide, two billion people do not have access to safe drinking water
- Almost half of the population has no access to safely managed sanitation facilities
Earth is on the brink of a global water crisis, warns a new UNESCO report.
Globally, two billion people — a quarter of the population — lack access to safe drinking water, while nearly half of the population (46 percent) lack access to safely managed sanitation, the report said.
Worryingly, experts say that without urgent action, things will get much worse.
“There is an urgent need for strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiraling out of control,” said UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay.
‘Water is our common future and it is essential to act together to distribute it fairly and manage it sustainably.’
Earth is on the brink of a global water crisis, new UNESCO report warns (stock image)

Globally, two billion people — a quarter of the population — lack access to safe drinking water, while nearly half of the population (46 percent) lack access to safely managed sanitation, the report said.
The report was published by UNESCO on World Water Day on behalf of UN-Water.
It shows that between two and three billion people are short of water for at least one month a year.
This poses a serious risk to their livelihoods, both through food security and access to electricity.
The authors say that water scarcity is the result of a combination of two main factors: the local impact of physical water stress, coupled with the acceleration and spread of freshwater pollution.
And worryingly, it could get worse thanks to climate change.
Due to climate change, seasonal water scarcity will increase in regions where it is currently abundant – such as Central Africa, East Asia and parts of South America – and worsen in regions where water is already scarce – such as the Middle East. East and the Sahel in Africa,” the report reveals.
According to the report, both low- and high-income countries are showing signs of risk related to water quality.
“Poor water quality in low-income countries is often linked to low levels of wastewater treatment,” it explained.
“While in higher-income countries, agricultural runoff is a more serious problem.”
Looking ahead, the report predicts that up to 2.4 billion people in urban areas could experience water scarcity by 2050 – more than double the number in 2016.
Based on the findings, the authors call on governments to take immediate action to improve access to safe water.
“There is much to do and time is not on our side,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, president of UN-Water and director-general of the International Labor Organization.
“This report shows our ambition and we must now come together and take action.
“This is our moment to make a difference.”