From Scarcity to Sustainability: Unpacking the World's Water Security Crisis

Harvest time in Satoyama (YouTube link)

Table 1. List of countries classified as "water secure"

Globally observable changes to freshwater ecosystems and hydrological regimes are caused by human activities.^[1]

Water demand from a growing population has redefined the natural landscape into agricultural and urban land. Global precipitation and temperature changes exacerbate the problem. The quantity and quality of freshwater are compromised. 

Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems will mitigate and strengthen resilience to climate change. For instance, wetlands trap carbon from the atmosphere and protect coastal areas from storm surges and inland areas from both floods and droughts by retaining water.

Water Security — Anson Mackay (YouTube link)

Water Security Levels

A recent Global Water Security Report by the United Nations University assessed the water security of different countries across the world.  This study assesses water security in countries by examining 10 different underlying components, ranging from water quality and sanitation to availability, resource stability, and climate-related risks.

Each component is given a score out of 10, with a nation’s overall water security score calculated from the sum.  In Table 1, we have listed a list of countries with security score of 75 and above, which is classified as “water secure”.

Worldwide Water Security Issues

In total, 113 countries are considered water insecure, including the world’s two most populated, India and China. An additional 24 countries are considered critically water insecure, with the largest by population including Pakistan and Ethiopia.  Read [3] for more details on water security level by country.

Because water scarcity over the world, we have started seeing battles over water are erupting across communities or even countries.  For example, here are the latest news headlines:

1. Thirsty Data Centers Are Making Hot Summers Even Scarier
• Battles are emerging between data center operators and adjacent communities over local water supplies in places such as Chile, Uruguay and parts of the southwestern US.
2. Taliban Prepare Suicide Bombers in Water Dispute With Iran
3. Texas Oilman Wants to Dam a River to Create a Giant Pool
4. Extreme Heat, Drought Drive Opposition to AI Data Centers
5. Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Talks on Giant Nile Dam
6. The Water Trade Is Booming — and Sucking Australia Dry (12/27/2023)
• The booming trade raises concerns about water scarcity and allocation. Critics argue it prioritizes corporate profits over environmental needs and the rights of local communities. 

References

1. Summary Progress of SDG 6 — water and sanitation for all
2. worldpop.org
3. Visualizing The Global Population By Water Security Levels
4. Thirsty Data Centers Are Making Hot Summers Even Scarier
5. Taliban Prepare Suicide Bombers in Water Dispute With Iran
6. Texas Oilman Wants to Dam a River to Create a Giant Pool
7. Extreme Heat, Drought Drive Opposition to AI Data Centers
8. Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Talks on Giant Nile Dam
9. Satoyama — Where People Live in Harmony with Nature in Japan