Global overlooked multidimensional water scarcity.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• Sustainability Science

Background:

• Water scarcity is a critical global issue impacting human well-being and societal sectors.
• Current metrics often overlook the roles of green water (soil moisture) and water quality in scarcity assessments.
• Understanding the full scope of water scarcity is essential for effective resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel concept of multidimensional water scarcity.
• To assess the combined and individual impacts of blue water, green water, and water quality on scarcity.
• To provide a more holistic understanding of global freshwater resource challenges.

Main Methods:

• Developed a multidimensional water scarcity framework incorporating blue water, green water, and water quality.
• Analyzed annual and seasonal water scarcity across global land areas and populations.
• Quantified the extent of exposure to different dimensions of water scarcity.

Main Results:

• 22-26% of global land and 58-64% of the population face annual water scarcity.
• Multidimensional water scarcity is particularly prevalent in India, China, and Pakistan.
• In 2015, 80% of the global population experienced at least one month of water scarcity, and 10% faced multidimensional scarcity.

Conclusions:

• Water scarcity is more widespread and complex than previously recognized.
• The multidimensional approach highlights critical, often overlooked, water quantity and quality issues.
• Urgent action is needed to balance human demands with freshwater availability and quality.