The global water cycle is spiraling into chaos, with intensifying swings between devastating droughts and catastrophic floods, according to the State of Global Water Resources 2024 report released Thursday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The report paints a stark picture of a planet grappling with escalating water-related challenges, threatening economies, ecosystems, and human livelihoods.

The WMO’s findings reveal that only about one-third of the world’s river basins experienced “normal” water conditions in 2024, with the remainder facing either severe droughts or excessive water levels. This imbalance, which has persisted for six consecutive years, underscores the growing unpredictability of global water resources. The report, based on data from WMO members, global hydrological models, and satellite observations, provides a comprehensive assessment of freshwater availability, including streamflow, reservoirs, lakes, groundwater, soil moisture, snow, and ice.

The 2024 report highlights stark regional disparities. The Amazon Basin and parts of South America, alongside southern Africa, endured crippling droughts that strained agriculture, disrupted water supplies, and threatened biodiversity. In contrast, central, western, and eastern Africa, parts of Asia, and Central Europe faced wetter-than-normal conditions, leading to destructive floods that displaced communities and damaged infrastructure. These extremes reflect a broader trend of climate-driven disruptions to the global water cycle, exacerbated by rising global temperatures.

One of the report’s most alarming findings is the continued loss of glaciers worldwide, marking 2024 as the third consecutive year of widespread glacier retreat. Many regions with small glaciers have either reached or are nearing “peak water”—the point at which glacier meltwater runoff hits its maximum before declining as glaciers shrink. This phenomenon threatens long-term water security for millions who depend on glacial runoff for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower, particularly in regions like the Andes, the Himalayas, and the Alps.

The WMO report aligns with UN Water estimates that 3.6 billion people currently face inadequate access to water for at least one month per year. By 2050, this figure is projected to soar to over 5 billion, jeopardling fears that the global community will fall short of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all. Water scarcity is already a pressing issue in arid and semi-arid regions, where overexploitation of groundwater and poor water management compound the problem. For instance, in India, groundwater depletion has reached critical levels in some states, while in the Middle East, countries like Yemen face severe water shortages that fuel conflict and displacement.

“Water sustains our societies, powers our economies, and anchors our ecosystems. Yet the world’s water resources are under growing pressure, while more extreme water-related hazards are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. From crop failures in drought-stricken regions to flooded urban centers, the economic toll of water-related disasters is staggering. The World Bank estimates that water scarcity could cost some regions up to 6% of their GDP by 2050, while floods in 2024 alone caused billions of dollars in damages across Asia and Europe.

Saulo emphasized the urgent need for reliable, science-based data to address the crisis. “We cannot manage what we do not measure,” she said. “Continued investment and enhanced collaboration in data sharing are vital to close monitoring gaps. Without data, we risk flying blind.” The WMO is advocating for improved global monitoring systems and increased investment in water infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable regions.

The report also underscores the need for international cooperation to address transboundary water challenges. Rivers like the Nile, Mekong, and Indus, which cross multiple countries, are flashpoints for potential conflicts as water scarcity intensifies. Collaborative agreements and sustainable management practices are critical to ensuring equitable access to shared water resources.

The State of Global Water Resources 2024 report serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address the global water crisis. Climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water use are pushing the planet’s freshwater systems to the brink. From parched farmlands in Africa to flooded cities in Asia, the consequences of an erratic water cycle are already reshaping lives. Without swift action—ranging from improved water management to aggressive climate mitigation—the world faces a future where water, the essence of life, becomes an increasingly scarce and contested resource. (ILKHA)