UN sounds alarm over rising demands on water resources as scarcity increases – UN News

Report on Renewable Water Availability and Usage in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This report provides an update on renewable water availability, defined as the amount of freshwater replenished annually in rivers and aquifers through precipitation. The data is crucial for monitoring progress towards SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Decline in Renewable Water Availability Per Person

According to the 2025 AQUASTAT Water Data Snapshot, renewable water availability per person has declined by 7% over the past decade, decreasing from 5,719 to 5,326 cubic metres (m³). This decline poses challenges to achieving SDG 6 and impacts other related goals such as SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Regions with the lowest freshwater resources per capita include Northern Africa, Southern Asia, and Western Asia. Countries such as Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Yemen rank among those with the lowest total renewable water resources, highlighting regional disparities in water availability.

Increase in Freshwater Withdrawal

Several regions have experienced an increase in freshwater withdrawals, intensifying pressure on already stressed water sources. Notably:

1. Northern Africa saw the largest increase, with freshwater withdrawals rising by 16%.
2. Globally, nearly 70% of withdrawals are from surface water sources, while 23% come from groundwater.

This trend underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management practices aligned with SDG 6.4, which focuses on increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors.

Water Usage in Agriculture

Agriculture remains the largest consumer of freshwater, accounting for approximately 72% of global freshwater withdrawals. The industrial and service sectors follow at 15% and 13%, respectively.

Key points include:

• 66 countries allocate more than 75% of their total freshwater withdrawal to agriculture.
• In Afghanistan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mali, Nepal, Somalia, and Sudan, this figure reaches 95%.

These statistics emphasize the critical role of sustainable agricultural water management in achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 6.

Shifts in Water Availability and Demand

The report highlights regional shifts in water availability and demand:

• North Africa continues to have some of the lowest freshwater availability per capita globally, with a 16% increase in withdrawals over the past decade.
• Western Asia (including most Middle Eastern countries) faces increased pressure on limited water supplies due to rapid demographic growth and agricultural demand.

These dynamics necessitate integrated water resource management to meet the targets of SDG 6 and support sustainable development.

Irrigation and Water-Use Efficiency

The report also reveals significant disparities in irrigation coverage and water-use efficiency across regions:

• In parts of Latin America and Asia, irrigation supports a large share of crop production.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, irrigated cropland represents only a small fraction of total cultivated land, indicating persistent gaps in access to water infrastructure.

At the national level, countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Suriname, and Uzbekistan report the highest irrigation coverage, with over 90% of cultivated land equipped with irrigation infrastructure.

Conversely, approximately 35 countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, have less than 1% of cultivated land under irrigation.

Enhancing irrigation infrastructure and efficiency is vital for achieving SDG 6.4 and SDG 2, promoting sustainable agriculture and water conservation.

Conclusion

The data underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to manage freshwater resources sustainably, addressing regional disparities and increasing water-use efficiency. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6, SDG 2, and SDG 15, depends on effective policies and investments in water infrastructure, conservation, and equitable distribution.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article focuses extensively on freshwater availability, water withdrawals, and irrigation efficiency, which are core issues under SDG 6.
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Agriculture’s heavy water use and irrigation practices relate to food production and sustainable agriculture, linking to SDG 2.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The discussion on water-use efficiency and resource management connects to sustainable consumption and production patterns.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Changes in water availability and demand, as well as pressures on water resources, imply climate-related impacts and the need for adaptation.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals.
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals.
   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels.
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Renewable Water Availability per Capita
   • The article mentions a decline in renewable water availability per person (from 5,326 to 5,719 m³), which can be linked to Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources).
2. Freshwater Withdrawals
   • Increase in freshwater withdrawals by region (e.g., 16% increase in Northern Africa) relates to measuring water use efficiency and sustainability, relevant to Indicator 6.4.1 (Change in water-use efficiency over time).
3. Water Use by Sector
   • Percentage of freshwater withdrawals by agriculture (72%), industry (15%), and services (13%) can be used to monitor sectoral water use patterns.
4. Irrigation Coverage
   • Proportion of cultivated land equipped with irrigation infrastructure (e.g., over 90% in Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia) reflects irrigation efficiency and access, linked to sustainable agriculture indicators.
5. Regional Water Stress and Availability
   • Data on regions with lowest freshwater resources per capita (e.g., Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Yemen) imply measurement of water scarcity and stress levels.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: news.un.org