Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines future water requirements through a 'Conventional Development Scenario' (CDS), which assumes a continuation of current demographic and economic trends. It finds that global water withdrawals are projected to increase from 3,700 cubic kilometers in 1995 to 5,000 cubic kilometers by 2025 in a mid-range case, with the most significant growth in developing regions. The study introduces several indices—including use-to-resource ratio, reliability, and coping capacity—to map water vulnerability. Results indicate that by 2025, a substantial portion of the world's population will live in water-stressed conditions, particularly in Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The report argues that this 'business-as-usual' path is unsustainable and proposes a transition toward a sustainable water future based on efficiency, equity, and ecosystem protection.