NEWS – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released State of Global Water Resource Report

HIGHLIGHTS

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades.
• This signifies a critical shift in water availability amidst growing global demand.

Glacier Mass Loss Reaches Record Levels

• Glaciers experienced the largest mass loss in the last 50 years.
• 2023 marked the second consecutive year of global ice loss across all regions.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Cycle

• Human-induced climate change has made the hydrological cycle more erratic and unpredictable.
• Rising temperatures lead to either too much or too little rainfall, exacerbating drought and flood conditions.

Call for Early Warning Systems for Water Hazards

• The WMO highlights the need for improved monitoring and forecasting of water-related hazards.
• The Early Warnings for All initiative aims to implement early warning systems globally by 2027.

Extreme Weather Patterns in 2023

• Prolonged droughts and floods were driven by the transition from La Niña to El Niño and exacerbated by climate change.
• 2023 was also the hottest year on record, further intensifying these water-related challenges.