Water scarcity

What “water scarcity” really means

When you hear the term water scarcity it is likely that images of barren deserts come to mind. In reality, water scarcity, or losing access to potable freshwater, can happen anywhere, and for a number of reasons. Even in areas where freshwater feels abundant. Water becomes scarce when it’s unsafe, unaffordable, or unavailable.

Humans have harnessed many of the world’s natural waterways—building dams, water wells, vast irrigation systems, and other structures that have allowed civilizations to grow,. Today freshwater ecosystems are increasingly overused, and some rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up.

Agriculture

Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s accessible freshwater. This overuse of water is drying up our freshwater resources. Many countries that produce large amounts of food—including India, China, Australia, Spain and the United States—have reached or are close to reaching their water resource limits. Added to these thirsty crops are the fact that agriculture also generates considerable freshwater pollution—both through fertilizers and pesticides—all of which affect both humans and other species. Strong water governance is crucial for a water and food secure future.

Population growth

In the last 50 years, the human population has more than doubled. This rapid growth— with its accompanying economic development and industrialization—has transformed water ecosystems around the world and resulted in a massive loss of biodiversity. Concern about water availability grows as freshwater use continues at unsustainable levels. Furthermore, the growing human population also needs food, shelter, and clothing, thus resulting in additional pressure on freshwater through the production of commodities and energy.

Climate change

As humans continue to pump more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, patterns of weather and water are changing around the world. Droughts will become more common in some places, floods in others. Glaciers and snowpacks will disappear in some areas, affecting the freshwater supplies to those downstream communities. These changes will combine to make less water available for agriculture, energy generation, cities, and ecosystems around the world.

Managing water scarcity and restoring natural systems

When water supplies are limited and poorly managed, both ecosystems and people suffer. Efficient and effective water management is necessary. WWF works with partners to advance the science of water conservation. We also work with governments, businesses, and local communities to ensure that there are sufficient in-stream flows for people and other freshwater species. Read more about our work to restore the natural flow of water in the Rio Grande basin.

Promoting water stewardship

To benefit both people and nature, WWF advocates for and supports organizations to become responsible water stewards. At the global level, we work on projects to establish an international water stewardship standard through the Alliance for Water Stewardship. We also support the use of water footprinting tools—which measure the amount of water used to produce each of the goods and services we use—with the Water Footprint Network and promote other international initiatives with the United Nations’ CEO Water Mandate and the World Economic Forum. At the local level, WWF conducts projects that measure water use and river basin impacts and demonstrates solutions for reducing these impacts. We partner with businesses and industries to identify water risks and take advantage of opportunities to enhance water stewardship.

Building resilience through connected rivers

WWF collaborates with partner groups and communities on the ground, in the business sector, and with governments to improve planning for infrastructure projects that impact rivers and wetlands in priority landscapes around the world, protecting freshwater systems and restoring healthy waterways. To keep rivers and their floodplains connected, WWF implements a four-part strategy which includes policy protections, sustainable water and energy planning, river restoration, and promoting resilience. A major component of this strategy is The Freshwater Challenge, the world’s largest initiative to restore degraded rivers, lakes, and wetlands and to protect vital freshwater ecosystems. This initiative aims to ensure that 186,411 miles of degraded rivers and more than 864 million acres of degraded wetlands are designated to be restored by 2030. It also includes conserving intact ecosystems.

Adapting to climate change

WWF works to address institutional challenges to managing water resources and protecting habitats before the worst impacts of climate change occur. This work includes promoting climate change adaptation in international conventions and supporting the preservation and restoration of wetlands. We help conduct assessments of river basins’ vulnerabilities to climate change and integrate climate change considerations into river basin management.