Climate change and geopolitics threaten water supplies - but disaster is not inevitable

"The international community must urgently strengthen, not just preserve, water treaties. Agreements should transition from a static process that aims to maintain historical river levels to a dynamic one that uses monitoring and modelling data on rainfall, snow and ice as well as river levels and flows. Real-time data would enable water managers to better control sediment and salinity levels."

"Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are melting at a rapid rate. This affects the seasonal volumes of melt water entering the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems as well as the dynamics of monsoons in South Asia."

"Geopolitical tensions are jeopardizing regional water-sharing agreements. In April 2025, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. Similarly, friction is increasing over Afghanistan's plans to construct a reservoir in the Kunar River that will reduce downstream water flows in Pakistan."

The UN warns of imminent global water bankruptcy driven by overuse, pollution, and climate change. Glacial melting on the Tibetan Plateau threatens major Asian river systems including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, affecting monsoon patterns and water availability for billions. Geopolitical tensions are undermining regional water-sharing agreements, including India's suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and disputes over Afghanistan's reservoir construction. The 1996 Ganges Water-sharing Treaty expires in December, affecting 630 million people. International institutions must strengthen water treaties by transitioning from static agreements maintaining historical levels to dynamic systems using real-time monitoring and modeling data on rainfall, snow, ice, and river flows. Digital twin simulations can help mitigate climate volatility and improve water management.

Read at Nature