Our Blue Planet is covered with water in 70% of its surface. However, only 2.5% is fresh water, and only 1% is easily accessible, most of which are found in glaciers and snow-covered areas.
Currently 36% of the world population lives in areas under what is called « water stress »: relationship between the amount of available water resources and the amount thereof that is extracted for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. A country with high water stress does not mean that it has little water, but that the availability of existing water does not serve to meet the demand of all users.
Water stress causes water shortage. The shortage of water will accelerate with climate change, pollution, the increase in population and migratory movements to urban areas. Today, while the world population is 3 times greater than a century ago, the world water demand has multiplied by 6, and the OECD estimates that it will increase by 55% by 2050.
The World Economic Forum has already identified water management as one of the biggest challenges facing governments around the world in its latest Annual Risk Reports.
But not everything is bad news. Undoubtedly, the application of new technologies to manage water supply more efficiently will help to combat its scarcity. And from the demand side, each and every one of us can act. There is no small action, it is the sum of actions that counts.
What are you willing to do?
