The water resources of the world experience more and more pressure, at the same time, more and more extreme dangerous phenomena associated with water have an increasing influence on life and livelihood. This was stated by the Secretary of General of the World Meteorological Organization (VMO) Celeste Saulo.
According to the new report on the state of water resources in the world, the water cycle is becoming increasingly unstable and extreme, fluctuating between the condition of the flood and drought. This emphasizes the cascading effect of too large or too small water on the economy and society.
The report states that in 2024 only about a third of the river basins of the world had “normal” conditions. The conditions in the rest were either higher or lower than the norm: a clear imbalance is observed for the sixth year in a row.
“2024, the year was the third year in a row, when a massive melting of glaciers occurred in all regions. Many regions with small glaciers have already reached or are now about the so-called peak water point when the melting of glaciers leads to the maximum annual drain, after which it decreases after which it decreases. Due to the reduction of the glaciers, ”it follows from the report.
it is noted that in 2024 the Amazon basin and other areas of South America, as well as the south of Africa, were covered with strong drought, while in the central, western and eastern parts of Africa, some parts of Asia and Central Europe were more moist than usual. Society is our economy and is the basis of the ecosystems, however, the water resources of the world experience increasing pressure, and at the same time, more and more extremely dangerous phenomena associated with water have an increasingly impact on life and livelihoods, ”the general secretary said WMO about the state of global water resources for 2024 is part of the UPMO obligation to provide this knowledge, ”she said.
The report also emphasizes the acute need to improve the monitoring and exchange of data. According to Saulo, constant investments and expansion of data exchange are vital for eliminating gaps in monitoring. “Without data, we risk acting blindly,” she said.
according to the UN -Water mechanism estimates, 3.6 billion people face the problem of insufficient access to water at least one month a year and it is expected that this figure will increase to more than 5 billion people, and the world is still significantly behind the goal of sustainable development of 6 in water resources and aim sanitation.