UN Warns Urban Water Scarcity Could Double by 2050

News Desk

Islamabad: Water shortages are expected to intensify sharply over the coming decades, with the number of people living in cities facing water scarcity potentially reaching 2.4 billion by 2050, according to a new United Nations report.

The UN World Water Development Report warned that nearly one billion urban residents are already experiencing water scarcity, while growing populations, rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and climate pressures are expected to further strain supplies.

The report estimates that urban water demand could increase by 80 per cent by 2050. The number of city dwellers facing water scarcity could rise from around 930 million in 2016 to between 1.7 billion and 2.4 billion within the next three decades.

Water insecurity is not limited to cities. Between two billion and three billion people worldwide currently experience water shortages for at least one month each year.

The report also highlighted a major gap in access to basic services, estimating that around two billion people do not have access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.6 billion lack safely managed sanitation.

Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, warned that failure to address growing shortages could trigger a global crisis. He pointed to rising demand from cities, industry and agriculture, with agriculture alone accounting for around 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals.

Climate change is adding further pressure, with increasingly frequent and prolonged droughts threatening ecosystems and putting plant and animal species at greater risk.

The report noted that water scarcity takes different forms across regions. In parts of Africa, economic water scarcity is linked to inadequate infrastructure and governance despite the presence of water resources, while physical shortages are particularly severe in arid regions such as the Middle East and parts of northern India.

Despite concerns over competition for dwindling supplies, Connor said water has historically been more likely to encourage cooperation than conflict.

He noted that 153 countries share around 900 rivers, lakes and aquifer systems, with more than half already covered by cooperation agreements.

The report therefore identifies stronger cooperation over shared water resources as a key strategy for preventing tensions and ensuring equitable access to water as global demand continues to rise.