A quarter of the world’s population faces “extreme water crisis”

"Water resources are one of the most important resources on earth, but the way we manage them does not reflect this importance." Samantha Kuzma, director of the Aqueduct water project at the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environment and development think tank, told CNN. "I have been working in water affairs for nearly 10 years, and unfortunately, the situation has hardly improved in 10 years."

WRI's latest research shows that 25 countries with a combined population accounting for a quarter of the world's population face extreme water stress every year; every year, at least half of the world's population spends one month or more in a highly water-stressed environment.

The five most water-stressed countries are Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman, mainly due to insufficient supply and high demand for domestic, agricultural and industrial water.

Global demand for water has more than doubled since 1960. The WRI report states that global demand for water resources is expected to increase by 20% to 25% by 2050.

"This level of water stress threatens people's lives, jobs, food and energy security. Water is central to growing crops, raising livestock, generating electricity, maintaining human health, promoting a just society and achieving the world's climate goals. Without enhanced water management, population growth, economic development and climate change will further worsen water stress," the report emphasizes.

Water stress has even become a factor affecting political stability, exacerbating tensions in some regions.

When it comes to response measures, the WRI report said that improving water resource utilization and alleviating water pressure requires political will and financial support. Take places such as Singapore and Las Vegas in the United States as examples. They use technologies such as desalination, treatment and wastewater reuse, and improved agricultural production efficiency to save water, proving that society can thrive even under conditions of severe water shortage.

"In fact, the cost of solving the problem is very low. About 29 cents per person per day from 2015 to 2030," the report said.

However, CNN pointed out that on a global scale, action is still lagging behind.

"This report once again reminds us that water stress has affected much of the planet and the lives of billions of people. We are on the brink of a global water crisis." Dieter Gelton, leader of the research team at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, told CNN.