A new report from the UN says about 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to safely managed sanitation services.

Painting a stark picture of rising global water scarcity, the World Water Development Report 2023 was released right before the first major UN conference on global water scarcity since 1977. The UN 2023 Water Conference is focussing on progress towards water- and sanitation-related goals.

Delineating the huge gap in the availability of water and its usage across different regions, the report underscores the need to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.

Findings of the World Water Development Report 2023

• Global:

1. Globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation
2. More than 70% of water consumption takes place in the agricultural sector.
3. About 10% of the global population lives in countries where water stress is considered "high or critical."
4. The biggest source of water pollution is untreated wastewater.
5. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from one-third (2016) to nearly half of the global urban population in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected.

• India Highlights:

1. 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; in particular, northeast China, as well as India and Pakistan.
2. The report painted a stark picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
3. About 26% of the global population does not have access to safe drinking water and about 46% of people lack access to safely managed sanitation services, according to a new report by the United Nations.
4. The report says about 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to safely managed sanitation services.

Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project

The report noted that although the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is long delayed, its benefits are immense in terms of irrigation and flood control and lessening energy shortages. The project, implemented in a sustainable and equitable manner, has the potential of addressing some of the water scarcity issues facing India and Nepal.  provided that it is implemented in a sustainable and equitable manner

Key Takeaways

• The UN has released the World Water Development Report 2023, which paints a stark picture of rising global water scarcity.
• The report says 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to basic sanitation.
• Published by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the report says about 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to safely managed sanitation services.