Water scarcity and conflict

Updated: Fri, 9 Nov 2018

With fees and laws, India rushes to save vanishing groundwater

About 600 million people - nearly half India's population - face acute water shortage, with close to 200,000 dying each year from polluted water

In Kyrgyzstan, warming brings less water - and more conflict
"Unless there is greater regional cooperation over water then these issues might create the next big war," warns one expert By Katie Arnold | Fri, 9 Nov 2018
Local water scarcity spilling over into global crisis -researchers
From Jordan to Uzbekistan, water shortages are proving hard to solve, researchers say By Laurie Goering | Mon, 18 Nov 2019
With reservoirs at risk, Sierra Leone confronts water crisis
Abundant downpours during the rainy season bring deadly floods every year but officials are increasingly worried about another trend: diminishing water reserves By Nellie Peyton | Mon, 19 Aug 2019
More deals, less conflict? Cross-border water planning key: report
As global water supplies run low, agreements on how to share water across borders are crucial - but few are in place yet, researchers say By Laurie Goering | Thu, 22 Aug 2019
In parched southern Africa, coronavirus spurs action on water
As governments race to drill boreholes and fill up water tankers, residents want solutions that will last long after the pandemic By Kim Harrisberg and Lungelo Ndlovu | Wed, 6 May 2020
As sales boom, Chile's 'green gold' is blamed for water shortages
Chile's Petorca province is a major exporter of avocados - but conflict over water is growing as climate change brings worsening drought By Nicky Milne | Mon, 3 Jun 2019
Arab states face water emergency, urgent action needed - UN
The Middle East and North Africa has suffered more than any other region from water scarcity and desertification, problems being complicated by climate change By Reuters | Thu, 4 Apr 2019
Climate shifts and rising demand fuel water stress in Turkey
Population growth, urbanisation, climate change and – critics say – poor water management all are straining Turkey's water supplies By Jennifer Hattam | Mon, 10 May 2021
in-depth Water politics heat up under worsening climate in Afghanistan
Measures to help Afghanistan's farmers access more water for irrigation could heighten tensions with the nation's neighbours. By Stefanie Glinski | Tue, 9 Jun 2020
Struggle for water intensifies as taps run dry in India
India faces the worst long-term water crisis in its history as demand outstrips supply, with millions of lives and livelihoods at risk By Roli Srivastava | Fri, 21 Jun 2019
England faces 'jaws of death' as taps set to run dry in 25 years
About 3 billion litres of water in England is wasted every day through leakages - the equivalent to that used by more than 20 million people By Lin Taylor | Tue, 19 Mar 2019
insight Running Dry: Competing for water on a thirsty planet
Growing populations, more farming and economic growth, climate change and a rush of people to cities all are increasing pressure on the world's limited water supplies By Laurie Goering | Mon, 3 Jun 2019
In Los Angeles 'water colony', tribes fear a parched future
As climate change brings more drought, California may need to rethink how it uses and shares water By Laurie Goering | Tue, 4 Jun 2019
City accused of seizing water as drought parches 'India's Detroit'
Bad water management and a lack of rainfall mean that all four reservoirs that supply Chennai, a carmaking centre dubbed "India's Detroit", have run virtually dry this summer By Reuters | Wed, 3 Jul 2019
Climate change 'imminent' security threat: risk experts
From Iraq and Pakistan to the Caribbean, climate change is driving threats of new insecurity and violence, security analysts say By Laurie Goering | Tue, 19 Feb 2019
Shrinking water supplies threaten to put Iraq 'on the edge'
Its economy slammed by coronavirus and falling oil prices, conflict-hit Iraq is struggling to deal with growing water shortages By Laurie Goering | Wed, 8 Jul 2020
Water conflicts set to rise amid demand growth and climate impacts
About a quarter of the world's population faces severe water shortages exacerbated by climate change - and with that is coming conflict, social unrest and migration By Anastasia Moloney | Wed, 2 Sep 2020
As supplies run low, Mexico City seeks durable fix for water woes
A lack of rain to fill reservoirs this year has compounded a leaky water network and over-use of groundwater, forcing authorities to look for solutions to urban water shortages By Christine Murray | Mon, 28 Dec 2020
'Chaos map' charts deaths from water, food and fuel disruption
Researchers warned that without better preparedness, more frequent climate shocks could lead to large-scale violence and the collapse of global markets By Anna Scholz-Carlson | Thu, 24 Oct 2019
As Cape Town races to save water, 'Day Zero' draws closer
In the worst-case scenario, extreme droughts could be about 100 times more likely than they were early last century By Kim Harrisberg | Mon, 9 Nov 2020
'Peace ambassadors' ease water conflicts in drought-prone Kenya
Volunteers are being trained to show rural communities ways to use water more efficiently to grow crops, and how to ease local tensions over the scarce resource By Caroline Wambui | Thu, 27 Jun 2019
Preserve, revive, restore: Indian ponds spring back to life
Tackling India's worsening water shortages will likely require not just government efforts but community-led projects, which can also provide work By Anuradha Nagaraj | Mon, 8 Mar 2021
'Water from air' quenches threatened girls' thirst in Kenya
Solar-powered panels that condense water vapour in the air could be a sustainable source of drinking water in dry areas By Benson Rioba | Wed, 14 Nov 2018
More people, less water? Scientists see risks on upper Nile
Population growth and climate shifts are likely to combine to bring worsening water scarcity, scientists say By Laurie Goering | Wed, 28 Aug 2019

MORE CONTENT

More content

Recent Spotlights

View full desktop version