ISLAMABAD: The World Water Development Report 2018, released by the United Nations, fears that nearly 20 per cent of the world’s population will be at risk from floods by 2050.

The number of people at risk is projected to rise from 1.2 billion today to around 1.6bn in 2050 as the population currently affected by land degradation and desertification and drought is estimated at 1.8bn people, making this the most significant category of ‘natural disaster’ based on mortality and socio-economic impact relative to GDP per capita.

The report titled ‘Water-based Solutions’ released by Unesco ahead of ‘World Water Day’ being observed on Thursday, says the trends in water availability and quality are accompanied by projected changes in flood and drought risks.

The global demand for water has been increasing at a rate of about one per cent per year as a function of population growth, economic development and changing consumption patterns, among other factors, and it will continue to grow significantly over the next two decades.

Industrial and domestic demand for water will increase much faster than agricultural demand, although agriculture will remain the largest overall user. The vast majority of the growing demand for water will occur in countries with developing or emerging economies.

At the same time, the global water cycle is intensifying due to climate change, with wetter regions generally becoming wetter and drier regions becoming even drier. At present, an estimated 3.6bn people — nearly half the global population — live in areas that are potentially water-scarce at least one month per year, and this population could increase to some 4.8 to 5.7bn by 2050.

Ecosystem degradation is a leading cause of increasing water resources management challenges. Although about 30pc of the global land remains forested, at least two thirds are in a degraded state.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018