Only about 0.5% of Earth's water is freshwater suitable for drinking, washing, and irrigation, and rising demand plus intensified heat and drought from climate change is reducing that supply. Around 2 billion people lack regular access to fresh drinking water, and half the global population experiences water scarcity seasonally. Water stress lowers crop yields, deepens food insecurity, reduces energy production, and raises health risks through poor sanitation. Functioning freshwater ecosystems are valued at roughly $58 trillion, about 60% of global GDP. Severe water stress in arid regions could reduce economic output by about 25% over two to three decades, undermining imports, infrastructure investment, and driving displacement and instability.
Planet Earth is 70% water, yet only about 0.5% is freshwater available for drinking, washing, and watering crops. And much of that is becoming scarcer due to rising demand and intensifying heat and drought linked to climate change. Some 2 billion people globally already lack regular access to fresh drinking water, while half the world's population suffer water scarcity for a part of the year.
Water stress is costly. It can lower crop yields, worsen food insecurity, reduce energy production and increase health risks due to poor sanitation. The economic value of functioning freshwater ecosystems was estimated at $58 trillion (49.4 trillion) in 2023 or about 60% of global gross domestic product (GDP), according to conservation organisation, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 'Not enough water to go around' High water stress in arid, drought-stricken countries across Africa and the Middle East is set to cause an economic decline of 25% over the next 20-30 years,
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