Last year was the driest year for rivers globally in over three decades. According to the State of Global Water Resources 2023 report released by the World Meteorological Organisation, nearly 50 per cent of rivers around the world are experiencing below-normal levels. The report further stated that global water supply is facing increasing pressure where 3.6 billion people are experiencing water shortages, a number expected to surpass 5 billion by 2050.
According to the report, glaciers lost more than 600 gigatonnes of water, the largest ice loss registered in the last 50 years, threatening future water security, with 2023 being the second year of widespread ice loss globally.
A single gigatonne of water can fill about 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The report stated that this is the second consecutive year in which all glaciated regions on the planet experienced ice loss threatening water supplies, sea levels, and ecosystems around the world.
Moreover, about a third of the ocean globally experienced marine heat waves on an average day, affecting ecosystems and food supplies.
By the end of the year, over 90 per cent of the ocean was hit by heat wave conditions at some point.
According to the report, the hydrological cycle or water cycle is becoming more unpredictable, making floods more extreme and droughts more intense.
The World Meteorological Organisation in their report stated that Africa was the most impacted by extreme hydrological events in terms of human lives lost. In Libya, a country in Africa, two dams collapsed due to flooding, resulting in the loss of nearly thirteen thousand lives affecting 22 per cent of the population.
Likewise, 2023 saw unprecedented heat, becoming the hottest year on record at 1.45 °C above pre-industrial levels. It happened primarily due to human-induced climate change with activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities among others.
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation is urging collective efforts to protect lives and livelihoods from water-related risks, calling for ambitious and integrated climate and water actions, such as transitioning to renewable energy, enhancing water management, and strengthening infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events among others.
Kinzang Lhadon
