Global Crisis Watch 376 & 377 – Water Security

Water is life. Yet in the twenty-first century, access to adequate, safe and reliable water is increasingly at risk. Whether for drinking, irrigation, industry, energy or ecosystems, water underpins nearly every aspect of human security. Climate change, population growth, pollution, inequitable governance and aging infrastructure are placing this vital resource under unprecedented strain. Water insecurity is no longer a distant concern – it is an urgent global challenge.

Freshwater reserves are depleting rapidly. Satellite data spanning 22 years show significant declines in terrestrial water, while shifting streamflow patterns intensify both droughts and floods. Scarcity is no longer merely a question of rainfall but of destabilized hydrological cycles. Europe illustrates this clearly: over 80% of its protected habitats are in poor condition due to overuse, pollution and invasive species. As the fastest-warming continent, Europe faces intensifying droughts, threatening food security, biodiversity and economic stability.

Despite progress in some regions, one in four people – roughly 2.1 billion – still lack safely managed drinking water. Even advanced economies face rising water insecurity, as aging infrastructure meets climate pressures, creating what some describe as “peak water security” crises. Rural and marginalized communities often suffer the most, reflecting deep socio-economic injustices.

Countries are pursuing engineering solutions to offset shortages. Israel pumps desalinated Mediterranean water into the Sea of Galilee to counter drought and ecological decline. Australia’s Victoria is expanding desalination and recycling systems, while the UAE is investing in global desalination innovation. Yet adaptation has limits: in Iraq, rising salinity in the Shatt al-Arab river has decimated bee populations and honey production, showing how environmental pressures can overwhelm ecosystems.

Water stress also heightens geopolitical tensions, from the Helmand River dispute between Iran and Afghanistan to the Ganga’s worst drought in 1,300 years, affecting India, Nepal and Bangladesh. At the same time, international efforts like the Water, Peace and Security Conference 2025, taking place on 27th – 28th October, illustrate water’s potential as a bridge for cooperation. Cities are frontline arenas of water insecurity: Johannesburg faces protests over chronic outages, while Poland has recently experienced cyber threats targeting municipal water systems, highlighting how digital vulnerabilities now intersect with water governance.

Modern water crises are characterized by compound stressors, systemic interdependence, dynamic unpredictability and injustice challenges. Water links directly to food, energy, health and conflict, creating cascading risks that cannot be managed in isolation. Ensuring adequate supply alone is insufficient; fair access and resilient institutions are equally critical.

The increasing focus on the development of AI and cyber-enabled cryptocurrencies, data centers and other next-generation technologies has added an additional level of stress to already over-stressed systems, impacting on national and regional water supplies as they demand the re-purposing of natural resources that are required to cool and power those energy-draining systems.

Tackling water challenges means looking ahead and working together. Nature – wetlands, mangroves and forests – acts as living infrastructure, slowing floods and replenishing water, while smart tools like AI and IoT help us manage it more wisely. By collaborating locally, nationally and across borders – and directing funding for nature and resilience to those who need it most – we can build solutions that benefit everyone.

Water security is no longer a distant concern; it’s one of the defining challenges of our time. Meeting it requires science, technology, fair governance and inclusive opportunities, so that water can continue to sustain life for generations to come.

Join us for an exploration of these issues and add your voice to the ISRM’s record of the challenges that we are facing on global, regional, national and local levels in ever developing and more impactful ways.

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