There are many factors that complicate access to drinking water, which can vary by region and local circumstances, such as the natural water resources and infrastructure itself, climate and rainfall, and the overall level of socioeconomic development and government policies in each region.
However, a new factor has come into play in recent decades: climate change is critically affecting access to drinking water, a vital resource for human survival. According to the UN, climate change affects the planet’s water in complex ways: From unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts, most of the effects of climate change have to do with water.
According to UNICEF data, 74% of natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related, including droughts and floods, and the frequency and intensity of these events are expected to increase with climate change.
What are the main impacts of climate change on access to safe drinking water and what can we do to prevent or mitigate them?
1. Water scarcity due to drought
Droughts are becoming more frequent and with worse effects due to climate change. In fact, according to a recent study published in Nature Water, the intensity of droughts and extreme precipitation has increased “sharply” over the past 20 years.
Higher temperatures and altered precipitation patterns reduce the availability of freshwater in many regions of the world. This has a direct impact on the amount of drinking water available to communities. In places where water scarcity was already a problem, climate change only exacerbates the situation.
2. Water pollution
According to Climate.gov data, the Earth’s temperature has risen an average of 0.080°C per decade since 1880, but the rate of warming since 1981 is more than double, 0.18°C per decade. 2022 was the sixth warmest year ever recorded according to NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) temperature data.
In this regard, rising temperatures may contribute to toxic algae blooms in bodies of water, which pollute the water and make it dangerous for human consumption. In addition, extreme flooding caused by intensified climatic events can carry contaminants into water sources, compromising the quality of drinking water.
3. Sea level rise
As in the case of rising temperatures, climate change is also causing sea level to rise. According to NOAA data, the rate of sea level rise is accelerating: it has more than doubled from 01.4 mm per year during most of the 20th century to 3.6 mm per year between 2006 and 2015. In 2022, the average sea level reached a new record: 101.2 mm above 1993 levels.
This causes contamination of coastal groundwater sources and threatens saltwater intrusion into aquifers, reducing the amount of drinking water available in densely populated coastal areas.
4. Displacement of populations
As extreme weather conditions, such as floods and droughts, become more frequent, people are forced to leave their homes. This can lead to the concentration of people in urban areas, increasing the demand for drinking water and putting pressure on existing supply systems.
According to UNESCO, the global urban population experiencing water scarcity is expected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people by 2050. The increasing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts is also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for plant and animal species.
5. Political instability and conflict
Shortages of clean water can lead to tensions and conflicts between communities and nations. In regions where access to water is already limited, increased competition for water resources can exacerbate political and social problems, which in turn make access to clean water even more difficult.
This Chronology of Water Conflicts shows how in more recent times these are intensifying, such as the clashes in Iran over water scarcity policies, the destruction of water infrastructure in Mali in rural villages, or the more recent conflict in Ukraine, where water reservoirs and dams become military targets.
What can we do?
To address these challenges, it is essential to raise awareness among the entire population of the seriousness of the problem, as well as to take action both locally and globally. Some of the actions that can be taken:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: mitigating climate change is crucial to limit the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.
- Conserve water: Promoting water conservation at the domestic and industrial levels is essential to preserve this limited resource.
- Improve water infrastructure: Investing in more climate-resilient and efficient water infrastructure can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
- Educate and raise awareness: Informing the population about the importance of water and the challenges it faces due to climate change can encourage more sustainable practices.
- International cooperation: Global cooperation is needed to address transboundary issues related to water and climate change.
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and, as climate change continues to affect our ability to guarantee this right, it is essential to take urgent and sustainable measures to protect our freshwater sources and ensure that they are available for current and future generations.
