WMO report highlights growing shortfalls, stress in global water resources

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🗞️ Driving the news: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its State of Global Water Resources report, revealing that 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in 33 years
• The report highlights concerning trends in water availability, with glaciers suffering their largest mass loss in 50 years, and the hydrological cycle becoming more erratic due to climate change

🔭 The context: Rising global temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are accelerating the hydrological cycle, leading to more extreme droughts and floods
• The report emphasizes that current water management systems are inadequate, with poor monitoring and data sharing, especially in the Global South
• Glaciers lost over 600 gigatonnes of water, contributing to long-term water security risks

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reduced water availability threatens communities, agriculture, and ecosystems globally, with 3.6 billion people already facing water shortages for at least one month per year
• If trends continue, this number could rise to over 5 billion by 2050, making water-related hazards a pressing global issue

⏭️ What's next: The WMO calls for improved monitoring, data-sharing, and cross-border collaboration to manage water resources effectively
• The report aligns with the Early Warnings for All initiative, aiming to enhance water-related hazard monitoring by 2027

💬 One quote: "Water is the canary in the coalmine of climate change," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, emphasizing the urgent need for action to tackle worsening water crises

📈 One stat: Glaciers globally lost over 600 gigatonnes of water in 2023—the largest loss in 50 years

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