It is the basis for all living ecosystems and habitats and must be respected if the development of human activity and well being is to be sustainable. Shortage of fresh water is looming as the most serious obstacle to food security, poverty reduction and protection of the environment. Even if we humans do everything we can to make irrigated agriculture more water efficient, humanity will still need more fresh water than is available to meet all its food needs. Overall, 1.2 billion people lack access to safe water and 3 billion lack access to good sanitation. This leads to diseases that kill more than 5 million people each year.
Excess water is also a huge problem.
The number of people affected by floods came to 31 million during the 5-year period from 1983 to 1987. These are world water crises. It will only get worse if nothing is done, say experts of the Kyoto Forum. The consequences will be higher food prices and expensive food imports for water scarce countries that are predominantly poor. Poor residents have few options but to live in squalid, unsafe environments.