Half of countries face severe degradation, say UN Water & UNEP

90 countries, primarily in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, are facing degradation of freshwater ecosystems

UN-Water and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), a leading global voice on the environment, report that freshwater systems in half of the world’s countries are experiencing significant degradation. This pressing issue highlights the urgent need for action to address the declining health of rivers, lakes and aquifers.

According to a press statement by the two organisations, 90 countries, primarily in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, are facing degradation of freshwater ecosystems. Factors contributing to this decline include pollution, dam construction, land conversion, over-extraction of water, and climate change. Meanwhile, regions like Oceania have shown improvements.

The statement adds that lakes and other surface water bodies are  also shrinking or disappearing in 364 basins worldwide. High levels of particles and nutrients in many large lakes, driven by land clearance, urbanisation, and certain weather events, causes algal blooms and low-oxygen conditions. However, reservoir construction has led to a net gain in permanent water, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia

According to the report climate change and land use have reduced river flow in 402 basins worldwide, a fivefold increase since 2000, with fewer basins seeing increased flow.

The report adds that the world provides less than 3 pc of global water quality data, with only 4,500 lake measurements out of nearly 250,000. This data gap could leave over half of humanity without adequate water quality information by 2030, hindering effective management of droughts, floods, and pollution. Where data exists, it shows freshwater quality has been declining since 2017.

It adds that sustainable water use requires implementing integrated water resources management (IWRM) across sectors, levels, and borders by 2030.

The report says 47 countries have nearly achieved Integrated Water Resources Management, 63 need to accelerate efforts, and 73 have limited capacity. At the current pace, global sustainable water management will be delayed until 2049, leaving 3.3 billion people in over 100 countries with ineffective governance for water demands by 2030.

Dianna Kopansky

The statement adds that the reports, focused on achieving “clean water and sanitation for all” (SDG 6) by protecting freshwater sources.

“Our blue planet is being rapidly deprived of healthy freshwater bodies and resources, with dire prospects for food security, climate change and biodiversity. At this critical point, global political commitments for sustainable water management have never been higher, including through the passing of a water resolution at the last UN Environment Assembly in February, but they are not being matched by required finance or action. Protection and restoration policies, tailored for different regions, are halting further loss and show that reversing degradation is within reach. We absolutely need more of them,” says Dianna Kopansky, Head of the Freshwater and Wetlands Unit, Ecosystems Division at UNEP.