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Water Shortages Rising Around the World
After record-breaking droughts swept across the globe in 2021, some climate experts fear next year’s dry conditions could become even more severe and widespread.
Drought conditions have dried up riverbeds and depleted water basins, leading to significant water cutbacks for a slew of industries, particularly agriculture. The scarcity of the resource is only forecast to worsen in the coming years due to volatile weather conditions and increasing populations, leading to additional shortage declarations and potential global conflicts concerning water supplies.
In Iran, a water crunch has erupted due to poor management of the country’s water supplies as well as the current drought environment. DW reported that droughts have taken place in Iran for 30 years, yet the frequency has recently increased as 97% of the country is now facing some level of drought. The drought has gotten so severe that protests have erupted in the region, with 2,000-3,000 protestors clashing with police last weekend.
Similarly, water scarcity has now hit a crisis point in northern Syria, due to a combination of rising temperatures and decreased levels of precipitation, per Al Jazeera. The area now depends solely on the Euphrates river, which has fallen to critically low levels. More than five million people rely on the river for water.
Europe is also predicting extreme water scarcity in the coming years. Nearly 70% of Spain could face drought conditions over the next three decades, meaning 27 million residents will struggle with heighetened scarcity. Meanwhile, 20% of Italy is at risk of desertification from extreme weather events, less precipitation and poor water infrastructure.
However, one of the key countries facing critical water deficits is China, which could have serious economic impacts.
According to The Hill, China’s per capita water availability is one-quarter of the global average, with nearly 700 million Chinese citizens currently living in regions considered highly water-stressed. Water shortages have limited electrical power generation in China, as hydroelectric and coal power producers are struggling with irregular water access, creating major disruptions for China’s manufacturers.
China’s water scarcity has direct impacts on the US economy as well. The US imports massive amounts of manufactured goods from China, including 70% of Walmart’s merchandise and 40% of all clothing sold in the US.
The long-term outlook for water availability in China is alarming. The Hill notes water shortages could disrupt energy markets and supply chains around the globe, which could lead the US to shift their supply chains away from China.
Without additional investment into water infrastructure, preservation and treatment, water scarcity will likely worsen and spread further across the globe as climate events become more severe.
Farming Industry Set to be Most Affected as Water Cuts Rise
MRP has previously highlighted record-breaking droughts in the US West and the adverse impact those conditions have had on crop yields. Dry weather has also created a surge in demand for water, a trend which appears to be accelerating heading into 2022.
The Washington Post recently reported on a new study which found that snowfall is coming in much lower than normal in the US West. Only 6% of the entire nation is covered in snow which is the lowest level since records began in 2003. The study, published in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, projects potentially catastrophic disruptions for US West water systems if the regions continue to experience low to no-snow seasons in the coming decades.
Unfortunately, mountain snowpack is projected to decline, and even disappear in some cases, writes Insurance Journal. Snow loss in the US West is expected to reduce water supply from snow runoff by another 25% before 2050, as basins and rivers in the region remain at historically low levels.
Water scarcity poses the biggest threat to the farmers. Bloomberg reports that California farmers who struggled through record-breaking heat in 2021 are bracing for another dry year, this time without any additional water from the state. California has had only one major storm this season and needs at least four more by spring to make a dent in the water deficit.
Fox 5 San Diego reported that most California districts will receive virtually no water next year amid record low reservoir levels. California dairy farmers are bracing for further water cuts this year, which will significantly raise feed costs for cows and in turn raise prices at the grocery store.
Agricultural commodities such as coffee, cotton and wheat are three of the key crops likely facing additional price swings this coming year. VOA News writes that extreme conditions are expected to accelerate, meaning crop yields could be dampened once again in 2022.
World Grain recently highlighted the Ag Economy Barometer, which receives responses from 400 agricultural producers. Of those 400 respondents, 82% expect more restrictive environmental regulations moving forward, up from 41% during the same period last year, likely due to water cuts and volatile weather conditions.
In Brazil, meanwhile, record droughts have driven many major reservoirs to less than 20% capacity, straining farming production in the country that produces one-third of the world’s sugar and 15% of the world’s beef, according to Nature.
According to charity WaterAid, a global water crisis is being largely ignored in climate talks. WaterAid notes that in 2020, water received less than 3% of global climate funding overall, not nearly enough to avoid future water crises.
As water scarcity is forecast to worsen, additional investment into water treatment, preservation and infrastructure is key to limiting supply deficits. Extreme droughts are spreading across the globe faster than previously expected, creating disruptions in global energy markets and supply chains.
In the US, limited rainfall and worsening drought is projected to top 2021’s record breaking dry conditions. That is particularly bad news for the agricultural industry, which is bracing for less water and worse weather in 2022. |
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