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The water stress crisis being incurred around the world — amplified by climate change — could exacerbate local and regional conflicts, according to a recently released report (pdf) by UN Water. Water security and ecosystem preservation are closely linked to peace and prosperity as it fosters health, livelihoods, and economic development, the report concludes, adding that water scarcity or mismanagement can amplify conflict and inequalities, particularly impacting the most vulnerable populations. Severe water scarcity affects about half of the world’s population, with one-quarter facing extremely high water stress, using over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply.
But conflict also compounds the water crisis further, creating a vicious cycle: Seven Arab countries were in conflict in 2021, posing significant challenges to water supply and infrastructure, according to the report. A lack of cooperation makes it difficult to navigate the climate crisis, or ensure equitable access to good quality water and sanitation, it explains.
Considering climate change factors could help reduce the impact of conflicts: Building infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change can help maintain the value of investments and ensure basic services even in uncertain conditions, the report said, adding that protecting assets in low- and middle-income countries from climate-induced hazards can provide benefits worth four times the cost. Planning for various future scenarios, such as organizing flood risk management and freshwater supply, ensures that infrastructure can endure climate challenges beyond expected extremes. Nature-based solutions can aid the environment and local communities as they are usually cost-effective, and environmental scientists and educators can also play a significant role in promoting peace.
Arab countries need to enhance cooperation to improve water resilience: With 19 out of 22 Arab nations facing water scarcity, cooperation across borders and sectors is critical. Two-thirds of freshwater resources are shared among countries, with 43 transboundary aquifers covering 58% of the area. Yet, insufficient data on water resources, especially groundwater, and competition between states near bodies of water have hindered cooperation.
Efforts to cooperate have worked in the past in North Africa: The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) serves as a transboundary non-renewable water resource for 5 mn people across Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. Although it doesn’t impose legal restrictions on groundwater abstraction, the NWSAS promotes cooperation in the region and serves as a model for future aquifer collaborations. Similarly, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to share the Saq-Ram/Disi aquifer since 2007.
Climate change is intensifying the global water cycle: Record rainfall extremes and meteorological droughts have been on the rise globally, with climate change expected to further intensify these patterns, the report explains. This projection includes increased frequency and severity of droughts and floods, leading to more extreme weather events and seasons. Climate-related water and vector-borne diseases are anticipated to increase worldwide along with substantial damages and irreversible losses in freshwater ecosystems. Least developed countries will face the most severe impacts, including small islands and the Arctic. Indigenous communities, small-scale food producers, and low-income households especially will be affected.
Who’s most impacted by conflict sparked by water scarcity? Lower income countries face challenges in wastewater treatment, especially as data on water quality is limited. Higher income countries however struggle with agricultural water runoff, which carries fertilizers and pesticides into freshwater sources. Women and girls in developing countries often bear the burden of securing and managing household and agricultural water needs, adding to their unpaid domestic workload. Conflict-related displacement leads to overcrowded living conditions without adequate sanitation facilities which poses health risks to vulnerable groups. Water scarcity and prolonged droughts increase the risks of violence against displaced women and girls as seen in Somalia with a 200% increase in gender-based violence among displaced populations.
