WMO Report Highlights Growing Threat of Hydrological Cycle Imbalance: A Serious Threat to Global Water Security

The hydrological cycle, also known as water cycle which is the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere, is spinning out of balance as a result of climate change and human activities, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The report, titled “State of the Global Water Resources 2023”, provides an extensive assessment of global water resources and the challenges they face. Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the WMO, said “This report offers a comprehensive, and consistent overview of water resources worldwide, highlighting the influence of climate, environmental, and societal changes.” The report finds that climate change is already having a significant impact on the hydrological cycle, leading to more extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts. These events can cause widespread damage to infrastructure and crops, and can displace millions of people.

Water is essential for life and for economic development. The report has emphasized on the lack of easily accessible, accurate hydrological data. Particularly, there is not enough of observational data for Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. There is a need that all the stakeholders collaborate in order to address the challenges to global water security and make investments in monitoring and data exchange. This will require a concerted effort investing in water infrastructure, improving water management practices, such as water conservation and efficiency measures for sustainable use of the water resources and to ensure global water security.