World entered a state of global water bankruptcy — UN report

The world is entering an era of so-called “global water bankruptcy,” in which rivers, lakes, and groundwater are being depleted faster than nature can replenish them.

This is stated in a new report by a United Nations research body — the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).

The document explains that decades of excessive water use, pollution, destruction of natural ecosystems, and pressure from climate change have pushed many water systems beyond their ability to recover. As a result, the authors argue that a new definition of the situation is needed.

The report notes that the terms “water stress” and “water crisis” no longer reflect reality. Previously, they were seen as warnings about problems that could still be avoided, but the world has already entered a new phase.

Instead, researchers propose the term “water bankruptcy.” It is defined as a condition in which long-term water consumption exceeds natural replenishment and causes such severe environmental damage that returning to previous levels is no longer realistic.

According to the report, this is evident in the shrinking of large lakes and the growing number of major rivers that no longer reach the sea for part of the year. Over the past fifty years, the world has lost about 410 million hectares of wetlands — nearly the same area as the entire European Union.

Another sign of “water bankruptcy” is the depletion of groundwater. Around 70% of major aquifers used for drinking water and irrigation show long-term declines in water levels. This has led to an increase in so-called “Day Zero” crises, when water demand exceeds available supplies, particularly in cities.

Climate change is further worsening the problem. Since 1970, the world has lost more than 30% of its glacier mass, reducing seasonal meltwater reserves on which hundreds of millions of people depend.

Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH and author of the report, told AFP that the consequences are visible on all inhabited continents, although not every country is yet in a state of water bankruptcy. He described the situation as a serious warning and said approaches to water policy must change.

According to him, governments must honestly acknowledge that water scarcity is not a temporary problem and should “declare bankruptcy now, rather than postponing the decision.” Madani urged policymakers to accept reality in order to avoid causing even greater irreversible damage to nature.

The report emphasizes that it is based on existing data and is not an exhaustive list of all water-related problems. Its main goal is to rethink the situation. The document is grounded in peer-reviewed scientific research that will soon be published in the journal Water Resources Management, where the definition of “water bankruptcy” will be formally proposed.

Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of the charity WaterAid, said the report “reflects a bitter truth: the global water crisis has passed the point of no return.” At the same time, some scientists who were not involved in preparing the report supported drawing attention to the issue but warned that conditions vary widely around the world and that broad formulations may overlook local progress in certain regions.

Tags: drought