Earth’s Water Cycle in Crisis: A Historic Imbalance Unfolds

Humanity has disrupted the global water cycle for the first time in history, fueling a water crisis that threatens economies, food production, and livelihoods, according to a report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. Decades of poor land use and water mismanagement, combined with human-driven climate change, have put unprecedented stress on the water cycle.

The water cycle, which moves water around Earth through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, is now off balance. Nearly 3 billion people face water scarcity, crops are failing, and cities are sinking as groundwater levels drop. Without urgent action, the crisis could endanger more than 50% of global food production and reduce countries’ GDPs by 8% by 2050, with the poorest nations facing even more significant losses.

The report highlights the overlooked importance of “green water”—moisture in soils and plants—alongside “blue water” in lakes, rivers, and aquifers. Disruptions to the water cycle are closely linked to climate change, as deforestation and wetland destruction reduce carbon sinks, further accelerating global warming and drying out landscapes. The report emphasizes that people need about 4,000 litres of water per day for a dignified life, far more than what most regions can provide from local sources. Read More

News Credit: CNN

Picture Credit: Aris Oikonomou/AFP/Getty Images