Two significant studies reveal how human demand and technological advancements are rapidly depleting the planet's freshwater resources.
Andrew Nikiforuk reports for The Tyee.
In short:
- Human activities, including damming, deforestation, and irrigation, are altering the global water cycle, impacting soil moisture and streamflow.
- Groundwater in 71% of the world's aquifers is declining, accelerated by climate change and increased extraction for agriculture and consumption.
- Efforts to conserve water often result in increased consumption elsewhere, exacerbating the crisis.
Key quote:
The technosphere respects no limits and unlike previous civilizations holds nothing sacred — not even a mountain watershed.
— Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee
Why this matters:
As freshwater resources dwindle, there's a direct impact on food and water security globally, necessitating sustainable practices in the face of escalating environmental challenges. The planet is losing free-flowing rivers. This is a problem.
