The Water Resources Group Background, Impact and the Way Forward Briefing report

The 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) is a neutral platform hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) that leverages a network of public, private, and civil society stakeholders to help governments manage water scarcity. Between 2010 and 2011, WRG conducted pilot programs in India (Karnataka and National Planning Commission), Jordan, and Mexico, focusing on economic analysis and multi-stakeholder convening to bridge the gap between water supply and demand. The report details a transition to a global entity with a target of catalyzing at least 15 country programs by 2016, supported by a $12 million secretariat budget for the 2012-2013 phase.

• Global freshwater demand is projected to exceed safe supply by approximately 40% by 2030 if current water management practices continue, potentially leading to a 30% shortfall in cereal production.
• WRG employs a three-stage 'ACT' approach to catalyze water reform: creating a fact-based economic Analysis, Convening public-private-civil society networks to build capacity, and supporting public-private Transformations.
• In Jordan, WRG analysis identified a need for an additional ~650 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of water by 2030 to meet national economic goals, suggesting a roadmap focused on efficiency, agricultural economic choices, and supply-side mega-projects.
• In Mexico, WRG found that the water supply-demand gap is expected to reach 23,000 hm3 by 2030, which would increase to 36,500 hm3 under an IPCC A2 climate change scenario, significantly raising the value at risk for irrigated agriculture to USD 8.1 billion.
• In the Indian state of Karnataka, WRG analysis indicated that water demand in 2030 is expected to far exceed supply, threatening the state's goal of growing agricultural GSDP at 4% and overall GSDP at 9-10%.
• In Mongolia, a pre-diagnostic identified three primary water challenges: the Ulaanbaatar water supply, mining in the South Gobi area, and irrigation and livestock in the Central region.
• South Africa is projected to face a water supply-demand deficit of 2.7 billion m3 by 2030, which could increase to 3.8 billion m3 per year if climate change reduces rainfall by 3% and supply yields by 10%.
• In China, 8 out of 10 river basins are expected to face water scarcity by 2030, with the Hai Basin projected to have the largest gap at 39%.
• The WRG is transitioning to a global entity hosted by the IFC with a goal to catalyze at least 15 country programs by January 2016, requiring $12 million in seed funding for the 2012-2013 period.

APA

World Economic Forum (2012). The Water Resources Group Background, Impact and the Way Forward Briefing report. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF/WRG_Background_Impact_and_Way_Forward.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. The Water Resources Group Background, Impact and the Way Forward Briefing report. 2012. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF/WRG_Background_Impact_and_Way_Forward.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=The Water Resources Group Background, Impact and the Way Forward Briefing report |date=26 January 2012 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF/WRG_Background_Impact_and_Way_Forward.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2012water, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{The Water Resources Group Background, Impact and the Way Forward Briefing report}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF/WRG_Background_Impact_and_Way_Forward.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }