Droughts, intensified by climate change, are critical challenges to global water security, significantly affecting human societies. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly erratic, the frequency and severity of droughts are intensifying, leading to alarming reductions in water resources.
Water scarcity is a threat to food security, access to drinking water, and human health. Agriculture is especially vulnerable to droughts, with an estimated quarter of the world’s croplands located in areas of stressed or unreliable water resources. Beyond the concerning implication for food security, this also threatens the livelihoods of farmers and local communities. Agricultural water withdrawals can also amplify water scarcity for other needs. Intense droughts have led to drinking water and municipal water supplies becoming dangerously low in many regions in recent years. In many cases, the impacts on communities already facing socio-economic challenges are disproportionately severe, and vulnerable populations are sometimes forced to migrate in search of more reliable water sources. With populations on the move or relying on suboptimal water resources, health risks rise.
In this Cell Press Forum on Sustainability, we will discuss the multifaceted impacts of droughts on water security, exploring strategies for resilience and adaptation to ensure a sustainable and equitable water future for all.
This webinar will be recorded and made available to watch on demand after the live event. Register for the event to join the discussion and be notified when the recording is available.
