January 20, 2026
1 min read
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World has entered an era of ‘global water bankruptcy,’ U.N. warns
Humans are using more water than Earth can support, with many water sources already damaged beyond repair, a report from the United Nations found
An irrigation ditch carries a light flow of water along agricultural fields amid drought conditions in June 2022 near Fillmore, Calif.
Humans use more water than the planet can support, entering an era of “global water bankruptcy,” a new report from the United Nations warns. Almost 75 percent of the world’s population now lives in countries that are experiencing significant water insecurity, according to the report.
Rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water sources are already “damaged beyond realistic prospects of full recovery,” the report states.
The report compares the situation to a bank account going into the red: humans are using more water than our planet can produce and using more water that is stored in sources such as glaciers, wetlands and aquifers.
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The impacts extend beyond drinking water, the report states. Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and author of the report, said at a press briefing on Tuesday that a functioning water system helps prevent biodiversity loss, fights climate change and supports national security.
“If you invest in water, you’re investing in everything else,” Madani said.
The report stresses that countries must take immediate action to put more sustainable water systems in place. “Recognizing this post-crisis reality is not an act of resignation,” the report states. It is a “starting point” to safeguard water “before the remaining natural capital is lost.”
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