Climate, Energy & Environment

First WMO report on global water resources shows drier than normal conditions in large areas in 2021

Some 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water at least one month per year and this is expected to increase to more than 5 billion by 2050, according to the U.N. weather agency.

, and John Heilprin

November 29, 2022 . 10:42 PM

2 min read

A WMO report on global water resources finds 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water at least a month per year (AN/Michael Herren)

The World Meteorological Organization's first State of Global Water Resources report finds large areas of Earth recorded dryer than normal conditions in 2021, compared to the average of the 30-year hydrological base period.

The report on Tuesday reflects that last year's precipitation patterns were influenced by climate change and a La Niña event. The area with below-average streamflow was about two times larger than the above-average area, in comparison to the 30-year hydrological average, WMO reported.

Some 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water at least one month per year and this is expected to increase to more than 5 billion by 2050, according to the U.N. weather agency.