The consequences are social unrest, conflict, and the risk of war. A proverb in Uzbekistan holds that when water runs out, the world will end. Lack of access to clean drinking water is one of the central problems of the 21st century. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has warned that the global water crisis is now the greatest challenge facing international society. UN environmental officials have reinforced this warning, pointing out that the fresh water crisis has become a threat with dimensions equal to those of climate change.
Water scarcity is at the heart of the crisis.
At the global scale, water consumption is increasing at twice the rate of population increase. 1.4 billion people currently have no access to clean drinking water. According to the UN, this number will increase to 2.5 billion by 2025. Water can be a crucial factor in development and well-being or a major impediment to development. Everyone should have access to clean drinking water, and water should be equitably distributed.