The Greek Courier
Living Under The Spell of Overextraction
and Climate Change
Source: CNN
January 20, 2026
According to a recent report from the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health, the world has entered "an era of global water bankruptcy" that carries severe and irreversible consequences. As Laura Paddison reports at CNN, the document highlights that many regions are grappling with acute water scarcity issues—Kabul might become the first major city to completely run out of water, while Mexico City is sinking approximately 20 inches per year due to over-extraction of groundwater. In the southwestern United States, states are embroiled in persistent conflicts over dwindling supplies from the already strained Colorado River.
The UN report argues that conventional terms like “water crisis” or “water stressed” fail to encompass the full severity of the situation. Kaveh Madani, the director of the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health, emphasizes that calling it a crisis implies a temporary state. With ongoing overconsumption and mismanagement, the world is entering a state of permanent deficit.
While it remains crucial to mitigate and adapt wherever possible, Madani explains that we must also acclimate to a new, harsher reality regarding water availability. “If we keep treating this as a temporary crisis, we risk overlooking the need for long-term adaptation,” he told CNN.
The concept of water bankruptcy operates similarly to financial bankruptcy: natural rainfall and snow provide the “income,” but the world is withdrawing more from its essential water bodies—such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers—than is being replenished. Climate change, with its accompanying heat and drought, exacerbates this already critical situation.
The results of this imbalance are stark: rivers and lakes are shrinking, wetlands are drying up, and aquifers are declining. Alarming statistics reveal that over 50% of the world's large lakes have lost water since 1990, while 70% of major aquifers face long-term depletion. Wetlands equivalent to almost the size of the European Union have vanished over the past fifty years, and glaciers have receded by 30% since 1970. In regions where water systems are less stressed, pollution continues to diminish drinking water supplies.
Madani warns that many areas are exceeding their hydrological limits, making a return to previous conditions impossible. Nearly 4 billion people experience water scarcity for at least one month each year due to this worsening crisis.
“Inevitably, the consequences of water bankruptcy will bring human suffering,” Madani stated, pointing to cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Tehran, where expansion occurs despite limited water resources. “Everything appears fine until it’s not, and by the time it’s obvious, it may be too late.”
The report outlines that various regions struggle with distinct challenges. The Middle East and North Africa face severe water stress compounded by climate vulnerability, while parts of South Asia deal with chronic shortages fueled by groundwater-dependent agriculture and urban population surges.
Madani emphasizes that issues in regions like the Southwest U.S., particularly concerning the Colorado River, are indicative of a permanent shift rather than a fleeting crisis. As drought continues to diminish this critical water source, the agreements based on outdated environmental conditions become increasingly untenable.
The report advocates for transitioning from short-term solutions to long-term strategies that can reduce widespread damage. Recommendations include transforming agricultural practices—currently the largest consumer of water—by shifting crops and improving irrigation efficiency; enhancing water monitoring through AI and remote sensing; cutting down on pollution; and boosting protection for wetlands and groundwater sources.
Water, the authors argue, could also serve as a unifying issue in our fragmented world, bridging political divides. Madani notes a growing awareness of water's essential value, which sparks hope for collective action.
As Richard Allan, a climate science professor not involved in the research, points out, the report's emphasis on long-term recovery rather than quick fixes is imperative. He stresses the need to mitigate climate change to ensure sufficient water for both people and ecosystems.
Jonathan Paul, an associate professor in geoscience, acknowledges that while the report underscores humanity's mismanagement of water resources, he believes the term "global water bankruptcy" may be overstated, despite acute stresses in many areas.
Madani aims for the report to spur necessary action. “By recognizing the reality of water bankruptcy, we can make vital choices to safeguard people, economies, and ecosystems. Delay only deepens the deficit.”
Credit: CNN, AFP/Getty Images
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