Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Global demand for fresh water is expected to outpace sustainable supply by 40% in 2030. Global water demand will climb in tandem with population and economic growth. At least two-thirds of the world's population will face 'water stress' by 2025 and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100 bring significant risk of unrest and conflict. The UN Security Council will have to declare water a strategic resource of humanity and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations. Organizations will be expected to play their part in conserving water.

• [New] The World Meteorological Organization projects a high likelihood of El Nino conditions emerging during May to July, accompanied by an increased risk of high temperatures and drought conditions across parts of Central and northern South America. Cello Square
• [New] Drier summers will mean more widespread drought - shortfalls in water supply could reach over five billion liters per day in England by 2050. Climate Change Committee
• [New] As per the report 'Economics of Water Scarcity in MENA: Institutional Solutions' by the end of this decade, the amount of water available per capita annually will fall below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 cubic meters per person, per year. IMARC Group
• [New] Drought conditions are expected to worsen in northern California and the Pacific Northwest, where warmer temperatures are melting an already thin snowpack. Circle of Blue
• [New] NASA and its European partners are tracking a major buildup of warm water in the Pacific Ocean that could signal the arrival of El Nino later in 2026. ScienceDaily
• [New] The European Commission plans to rewrite the EU's flagship water protection law to speed up the development of critical minerals mines, despite many being located in drying and water-stressed regions, analysis has found. The Guardian
• [New] Without coordinated action across climate and food systems, the growing impacts of ocean acidification will continue to undermine fisheries and aquaculture that underpin global nutrition and livelihoods. The Fishing Daily - Irish, UK and European Fishing Indu
• [New] The July precipitation outlook favors above-normal precipitation across the Ohio River Basin, including Kentucky and southeast Missouri, which could improve drought conditions. Drought.gov
• [New] Water safety plans remain central to WHO's recommended approach for managing drinking-water risks. World Health Organization: WHO
• [New] Somalia was upgraded due to drought, conflict and poor harvests, with famine risks identified in Burhakaba District. UN News
• [New] A powerful climate phenomenon developing thousands of kilometers away in the tropical Pacific Ocean could soon influence weather patterns across the UAE, raising the prospect of hotter conditions, higher humidity and a more active autumn storm season. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] The approximately 500 TWh of energy and 560 billion liters of water consumed by data centers in 2025 is expected to double by 2030. Travers Smith
• [New] Even when some withdrawn water is recycled by datacenters, large-scale withdrawals can strain aquifers and river systems, particularly in arid or groundwater-depleted regions, a recent UN report warned. The Guardian
• [New] More than half of the world's population will be affected by water shortages by 2032, causing severe health consequences, unless urgent action is taken. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Using AI modeling fed with experimentally validated data, researchers at the University of Sao Paulo predict the simultaneous impact of high temperatures, drought, and increased CO2. EurekAlert!
• Data center energy and water use are expected to double by 2030. ASLA
• Decreasing funding for the USDA's program and other conservation programs would increase farming-related pollution of drinking water and air, putting families at risk downstream. Environmental Working Group
• Average - to Above-Average Seasonal Precipitation Will Improve but Not End Drought in the Southwest U.S. Drought.gov
• Above-average rainfall totals will improve short-term drought conditions in the Southwest U.S. Drought.gov
• Global demand for animal-based foods is projected to increase by nearly 70% by 2050 due to population growth and rising incomes, placing immense pressure on land and water resources. Market Data Forecast
• Even following the Paris Agreement targets, drought-induced migration could increase by about 200% by the end of the 21st century. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Warming oceans, acidification and shifting species distributions are already disrupting fisheries worldwide, threatening the communities that depend on them. Inter Press Service

Last updated: 27 June 2026