By Abdullahi Lukman
The world is entering a state of “water bankruptcy” as human water use continues to exceed the planet’s renewable supplies, pushing rivers, lakes, and aquifers toward long-term depletion, according to a new report by a United Nations research agency.
The study, released by the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), warns that in many regions water systems are already failing after decades of overuse, pollution, and rising demand.
Researchers say societies have withdrawn more water than natural systems can reliably replenish, in some cases crossing thresholds beyond which recovery may be difficult.
The report highlights severe impacts in regions including the Middle East and North Africa, parts of South Asia, and the southwestern United States.
Dozens of major rivers now fail to reach the sea for parts of the year, while many river basins and aquifers have been overdrawn for at least five decades. Since the early 1990s, half of the world’s large lakes have seen declining water levels, affecting roughly a quarter of the global population.
Researchers also point to the widespread loss of wetlands, which act as natural buffers against floods and droughts. More than one billion acres of wetlands have disappeared over the past 50 years, weakening ecosystems and increasing risks to nearby communities.
According to the report, about 75 percent of the global population lives in countries classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure. Around four billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, while billions lack access to safe drinking water or sanitation.
At the same time, much of the world’s food production depends on regions where water storage is declining.
UN officials warned that worsening water scarcity could fuel food insecurity, displacement, and instability.
The report calls for urgent action to restore degraded water systems, curb ongoing depletion, and adapt economies and agriculture to the limits of available water, stressing that equitable water management will be critical to maintaining social and political stability.
