Unequal water future: Study reveals how climate change is widening scarcity in some regions while easing it in others. Widening water gaps in key regions could escalate conflicts and strain resources in politically sensitive zones.
The global distribution of water resources is uneven, leading to varying levels of water scarcity. Climate change and global warming are expected to exacerbate this disparity, necessitating different adaptation strategies for different countries, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature.
Due to varying hydrology and terrains, the impacts of climate change would be different. Countries like India would witness widening water gaps or scarcities, while others like Nigeria and Sudan would see improvements owing to change in precipitation patterns. However, the trend may change over the years for the same basins.
These widening water gaps in some regions would mean increasing conflicts and regional tensions, especially in politically sensitive zones. This concern was also addressed in a United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) report that talked about escalating conflicts when pressure on resources increases. The report also highlighted the varying effects, underscoring the necessity for region-specific policies and planning.
