How Climate Change Has an Impact on Water Scarcity

 

The Evolving Issue

Clean water scarcity is the lack of clean water supplies. Access to fresh, unpolluted water has become scarce for the ever-increasing population affected by climate change.

The relationship between water and the changing climate cannot be severed. Water is becoming either more limited, more erratic in its distribution, or more contaminated as a direct result of extreme weather occurrences. The consequences that these factors have throughout the water cycle pose a danger to sustainable development, biodiversity, and people’s access to clean water and sanitation.

Millions of people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Almost 800 children die daily due to diseases borne from dirty water.

It’s Impact

Water scarcity has had a devastating impact on families and communities. Due to clean water scarcity, children are unable to attend school while parents suffer to make a living.

The most affected people by clean water scarcity are women and children. Children because they are the most vulnerable to water-borne disease,s while women because they usually perform the difficult task of carrying water to their homes from long distances.

How Climate Change Impacts Water Scarcity

According to UN experts, for every 1°C rise in the global temperature, there has been a 20 percent drop witnessed in renewable water resources. The world’s glaciers, ice caps, and snowfields are all melting at an alarming rate. Many of the world’s greatest river systems receive their water supply from meltwater. The instability of the cryosphere can have an effect on the control of the freshwater supplies available to large numbers of people living in lowland areas.

It is expected that climate change will continue to increase stress on areas already having water shortages. Besides, the subtropical areas, including Australia, the southern United States, and North African nations, are expected to get warmer and suffer from droughts.

Communities are becoming more unstable as a result of droughts and wildfires, which are leading to civil instability and migration in many locations. The removal of tree cover and vegetation exacerbates soil erosion and decreases groundwater recharge, which in turn increases the likelihood of experiencing both water shortages and food poverty. In addition, climate change may also bring unexpected floods that can result in a complete wipeout of crops.

Besides, climate change resulting in water scarcity will also make a life for sea creatures difficult. Many kinds of fish are moving toward poles in search of cooler waters; this has greatly impacted the fishing industry.

Another important thing worth mentioning here is that climate change has made water scarcity not just a third-world countries issue. Everyone is expected to bear the consequences of water shortages. Water shortages are likely in parts of the U.S. and Pacific Islands in the near future.

Even today, a study revealed that almost 1.6 million American do not have access to clean drinking water. In addition to that, almost 40.9 million American households cannot afford water in 2022, especially due to climate change and its severe impact.

What We Can Do to Help

The question here is what we can do henceforward. How can we improve our lifestyle to prevent water shortages? What can we do to help people affected by water scarcity? For starters, we need to plant more treats, make our irrigation system better, ensure that the crops we plant are appropriate for the local climate, and increase water and solar power projects.

Remember that everyone has a role in mitigating the effects of climate change through a variety of different actions. There are small ways to help. For example, rather than driving a car, you may potentially choose to walk or ride a bike. In order to have a positive impact on the state of our planet and its inhabitants, businesses that are reliant on fossil fuels must make the transition to alternative energy sources that are renewable and less polluting.

Acts for Water is an organization that is doing commendable work to provide clean, safe water to people living in Uganda. It is their belief that access to clean water is one of the most effective ways to boost economic growth. Here all of us should play our parts in doing whatever we can to help people suffering from water scarcity.

Get in touch with us today to show you care!