Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

Water is ‘canary in the coalmine’ of climate change: WMO

9 Oct 2024

Image: UNICEF/Faisal Magray


Media release | The year 2023 marked the driest year in over three decades for rivers around the world, according to a new report coordinated by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization.

The State of Global Water Resources report released on Monday also highlights that over the last five years below-normal conditions for river flows have been recorded with less water reaching reservoirs.The reduction in supplies has reduced the amount of water available for communities, agriculture and ecosystems.

 

Currently, 3.6 billion people worldwide face inadequate access to water at least a month per year and this is expected to increase to more than five billion by 2050, according to UN Water.

 

The report also reveals that glaciers suffered the largest loss of mass ever registered in the last five decades. Every region in the world where glaciers are present reported ice loss.

 

The ice loss has produced more than 600 gigatonnes of water, much of which has ended up in the ocean as well as some riverways.

 

Meanwhile, 2023 was recorded as the hottest year on record, leading to elevated temperatures and widespread dry conditions, which contributed to prolonged droughts.

 

Unprecedented stress

“Water is the canary in the coalmine of climate change. We receive distress signals in the form of increasingly extreme rainfall, floods and droughts which wreak heavy toll on lives, ecosystems and economies said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

 

The report also paints a stark picture of the world’s freshwater resources, highlighting unprecedented stress, exacerbated by climate change and increasing demand.

 

Climate change intensifies

 

A significant number of floods across the world are highlighted in the report.

 

The surge in extreme hydrological events has been influenced by naturally occurring climate conditions including the transition from La Niña to El Niño weather patterns in mid-2023 as well as human induced climate change.

 

“As a result of rising temperatures, the hydrological cycle has accelerated. It has also become more erratic and unpredictable, and we are facing growing problems of either too much or too little water,” Ms. Saulo explained.

 

Africa battered

Africa was the most impacted in terms of human casualties. In Libya, two dams collapsed due to the major flood in September 2023, claiming more than 11,000 lives and affecting 22 per cent of the population.

 

Floods also affected the Greater Horn of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as Rwanda, Mozambique and Malawi.

 

Meanwhile, the southern United States, Central America, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Brazil were affected by widespread drought conditions, which led to the lowest water levels ever observed in the Amazon and in Lake Titicaca on the border of Bolivia and Peru.

 

Monitoring and data sharing

“Far too little is known about the true state of the world’s freshwater resources. We cannot manage what we do not measure,” Ms. Saulo stated.

 

“This report seeks to contribute to improved monitoring, data-sharing, cross-border collaboration and assessments. This is urgently needed,” she added.

 

WMO said the report seeks to enhance the accessibility and availability of observational data, through better monitoring and improved data sharing, particularly in the Global South.

 

Early warning

The report aligns with the focus of the UN’s global Early Warnings for All initiative in addressing water-related challenges.

 

The global effort aims to improve data quality and access for water-related hazard monitoring and forecasting, with the goal of providing Early Warning systems for all by 2027.

 

The WMO has emphasised the urgent need for action to address water-related challenges, calling for improved monitoring, data sharing and cross-border collaboration to better understand and manage global water resources.

print this story


Related Topics:   Greenhouse Effect Science

More >
Media releases
More >

New look for New Zealand’s bioeconomy research

Wed 3 Sep 2025

Media release | The Bioeconomy Science Institute, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest research organisation, launched its new look.

Jonathan Young, Ara Ake Head of Industry and Government Engagement

Conference to tackle energy hardship and build resilience returns for third year

Tue 2 Sep 2025

Media release - Ara Ake | The Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference will return on 8-9 October 2025 at the Harbourside Function Centre, Wellington, bringing together leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy, community and research sectors.

Tasman flood waste recovery receives $2M boost

Mon 1 Sep 2025

Media release - New Zealand Government | The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

Haukapuanui Vercoe at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego, US.

Marae resilience research takes global stage

Fri 29 Aug 2025

Media release | University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau | Marae are central hubs for whānau, hapū, and iwi across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Contact and bp charge partner to offer savings on EV charging

28 Aug 2025

Media release | Contact Energy (Contact) and bp charge have partnered to introduce a new customer offer to make electric vehicle (EV) charging easier for Kiwi drivers.

Rising cost of insurance prompts call for action on affordability and climate risks

27 Aug 2025

Media release | Consumer NZ releases a sobering report that highlights how house insurance is becoming increasingly out of reach for New Zealanders.

East Coast schools receive funding as part of pool solar project

26 Aug 2025

Media release: Trust Tairāwhiti | Four schools along the East Coast have been equipped with solar panels, battery storage, and pool heating systems as part of a $3.5m school pool heating and resilience project.

Verra and S&P advance carbon market integration with next-generation registry

26 Aug 2025

Media release - Verra | World’s largest GHG standards body collaborates with the world’s leading commodities information and registry infrastructure provider.

PhD student William Sheard says mining e-waste is more sustainable than mining the earth for metals.

The quest to turn e-waste into metals

26 Aug 2025

Media release – University of Auckland | William Sheard is on a quest to turn electronic waste into metals.

Latest data confirms rail as lower carbon option for moving freight

25 Aug 2025

Media release | KiwiRail customers who chose to move their goods on rail collectively saved 220,254 tonnes of CO2e emissions in the last financial year (ending June 2025).

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.185 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: