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Rabat – The World Bank group has issued a dire warning that approximately 1.6 billion people around the world could be deprived of access to safe drinking water by the year 2030.
This revelation comes as part of a comprehensive report from the World Bank that highlights the escalating crisis of water scarcity and the sanitation challenges that continue to plague communities worldwide.
The report, published on August 18 as part of “Water Blog,” makes the case that not only will 1.6 billion individuals lack access to safe drinking water, but an additional 2.8 billion people are projected to be deprived of basic sanitation facilities.
The grim statistics don’t end there, as the report also emphasizes that 1.9 billion individuals will face a lack of basic hygiene amenities. This trifecta of challenges underscores the pressing need for immediate action to address the water crisis on a global scale.
Water has now emerged as a triple-threat crisis intensified by the effects of climate change.
Communities are grappling with issues of water scarcity, contamination, and inadequate infrastructure, all of which lead to severe repercussions.
The inability to access clean and safe water not only jeopardizes public health but also has far-reaching consequences for economies, instigates mass migration, and even holds the potential to ignite conflicts in already vulnerable regions.
To combat this escalating crisis, the World Bank has called for a concerted global effort to establish water security as an essential component of inclusive and resilient green growth.
The Bank emphasized the interconnectedness between water, climate, and conflict, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues holistically.
Read also: Water Scarcity ‘A Real Threat to Morocco’s Stability’
World Bank Group officials have pinpointed four essential strategies to drive improvements in water management: investment, innovation, information, and institutions.
The report emphasized that a significant increase in both public and private financing is necessary to meet the surging demand for water services. Innovation in water management can lead to enhanced efficiency, cost reduction, and waste reduction, setting the stage for a sustainable water future.
The IFC, a key division of the World Bank Group, has called upon both public and private sectors to collaborate in a bid to achieve water security and alleviate the impending crisis.
Notably, the focus of the World Bank’s “Water Blog” is directed towards regions and countries that are currently off-track to meet the water-related Sustainable Development Goals. It argues that collaborative efforts to tackle the impending water crisis in countries around the world will not only yield societal benefits but also generate economic returns.
For every dollar invested in building resilience against the water crisis, a return of $4 can be anticipated. The return comes from reduced healthcare costs, heightened productivity, and an improved quality of life and employment prospects, particularly for marginalized groups like women and youth.
In addition to these societal benefits, ramped-up investment in water infrastructure is projected to bolster public health and ecosystem resilience.
Furthermore, farmers will receive improved water services, and critical water storage facilities will be enhanced, fostering long-term resilience in the face of an increasingly uncertain water future.
