Washington, Oct. 6 (BNA): Most of the world is unprepared for floods, hurricanes and droughts expected to worsen with climate change and urgently needs better warning systems to avoid water-related disasters, according to a report by the United Nations. weather agency.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that global water management is “fragmented and inadequate,” with nearly 60 percent of 101 countries surveyed finding a need for improved forecasting systems that can help prevent devastation from severe weather.
As the population grows, the number of people without adequate access to water is also expected to rise to more than 5 billion by 2050, compared to 3.6 billion in 2018, the report said.
Among the measures recommended by the report are better warning systems for areas prone to floods and droughts that can identify, for example, when a river is expected to swell. There is also a need for better funding and coordination between countries on water management, according to the report by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization, development agencies and other groups.
“We need to wake up to the looming water crisis,” said Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.
The report found that since 2000, global flood-related disasters have increased by 134 percent compared to the previous two decades. Most of the flood-related deaths and economic losses occurred in Asia, where torrential rains caused massive flooding in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal and Pakistan last year.
The frequency of drought-related disasters increased by 29% over the same period. African countries have recorded the most deaths related to drought. The report stated that the largest economic losses from drought were in North America, Asia and the Caribbean.
Globally, the report found that 25 percent of all cities already suffer from regular water shortages. Over the past two decades, she said, the planet’s combined supply of surface water, groundwater, soil water, snow and ice has declined by 0.4 inches (1 cm) per year.
Al-Fateh Al-Taher, a professor of hydrology and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not involved in the report, said population growth will further stress water supplies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Water availability is in increasing populations where adaptation to water will be very urgent,” he said.
Although some progress has been made in recent years, the report found that 107 countries will not achieve the goals of sustainable management of water supply and access by 2030 at current rates.
MI