Over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water, but less than 0.02% is fresh water in lakes and rivers. An even smaller fraction of that fresh surface water is safe for humans to consume and farm. Still, according to Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters, humans are drawing too heavily on those resources without allowing replenishment.
What's worse, climate change is threatening to exacerbate the problem by drying out some already overstressed water sources, like the Colorado river.
"By the year 2050, we could have between 20 and 30% less water in that river system because of climate warming," he said during a GZERO Live event organized by the Sustainability Leaders Council, a partnership between Eurasia Group, GZERO Media, and Suntory. Watch what he says to find out why he's still hopeful humans will adapt.
Watch the full livestream conversation: The global water crisis and the path to a sustainable future
- COP28’s challenge: growing problems, shrinking credibility ›
- The global water crisis and the path to a sustainable future - GZERO ... ›
- Water will become very political in 2023, says Eurasia Group analyst ›
- The uncomfortable truth about water scarcity ›
- Will the world come to grips with its water crisis in 2023? ›
- Water scarcity can sink a city, says expert Tanvi Nagpal - GZERO Media ›
More For You
PUPPET REGIME is nominated for The Webby Awards!! Help us win by voting here: https://wbby.co/58950N
Most Popular
See: “Raphael: Sublime Poetry at the Met.” The first Raphael retrospective ever mounted in the US is running through June 28 at the Met Museum.
Forty-eight countries have officially qualified for the World Cup, after Iraq booked the final spot with its win against Bolivia on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026.
What are Donald Trump’s aims in Iran? He’s sent conflicting signals in recent days — is he ending the war soon or launching a ground invasion?