(NewsNation) — An ominous international report published Wednesday warns of a growing issue with the world’s water, one that could put half of all food production in the danger zone within decades.
“The world faces a growing water disaster. For the first time in human history, the hydrological cycle is out of balance, undermining an equitable and sustainable future for all,” the Global Commission on the Economics of Water report reads.
That imbalance, researchers say, is caused by climate change — a phenomenon that’s caused increased storm surges, severe weather and flooding risks in recent decades.
If the crisis continues to grow, the world’s 8.2 billion people could see catastrophic impacts on food availability. Densely populated areas, including northwestern India, northeastern China and southern and eastern Europe, will be subjected to the worst of it, researchers predict.
“Nearly 3 billion people and more than half of the world’s food production are now in areas where total water storage is projected to decline,” the report reads.
As of 2024, about half of the world’s population already deals with water scarcity, and that percentage is expected to only rise.
The report’s researchers estimate that the problem could impact both human life and the economy, potentially slashing global economic growth by roughly 8% annually.
Researchers call for “bolder and more integrated thinking” about maintaining the world’s hydrological cycle, including a call for governments and businesses to address on the problem collectively.
“We can do it. We’ve just chosen not to because we have inertia, because we have profits being made from not dealing with the crisis. Some 80% of wastewater isn’t recycled,” Mariana Mazzucato, a professor and founding director of the University College London Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, told NBC News.
“Like many problems, including climate change, biodiversity and health pandemics, we can turn those problems into massive opportunities for investment,” she added.