The “new abnormal”: The rise of extreme flooding, briefly explained
VoxJUL 2023
Clean water, essential for life, is already beyond reach for billions of people worldwide. The situation is worsening, as climate change and population growth strain already limited resources. For every 1.8°F rise in global temperature, we lose 20% of our renewable water resources. This problem transcends borders, sometimes sparking international tensions, yet global coordination to address this crisis remains inadequate.
We can protect and restore natural water sources like wetlands and forests while dramatically improving agricultural water efficiency through drip irrigation. Cities must fix leaky infrastructure that wastes trillions of gallons yearly with creative solutions like water recycling and rainwater harvesting. Most importantly, we need integrated approaches that recognize water's connection to climate, food, and energy.
There's a 37% chance that humanity will (essentially) run out of at least one element currently considered "under serious threat" by 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.