The State of Global Water Resources Report 2024 released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights intensifying imbalances in the water cycle, with increasing frequency of droughts, deluges, and glacier loss, impacting billions worldwide.

Key Findings of the WMO Report

• Erratic River Basins: Only 1/3rd of global river basins had normal conditions; 2/3rd were above or below normal for the sixth consecutive year.
• Glacier Loss:
  • 3rd straight year of widespread ice loss (≈450 Gt, adding 1.2 mm to sea level).
  • Equivalent to 180 million Olympic pools; Colombian glaciers lost 5%.
  • Peak-water thresholds reached in several small-glacier regions.
• Water Stress: 3.6 billion people already face inadequate water access at least once a year; projected to rise to 5+ billion by 2050 (UN Water).
• Climatic Conditions: 2024 was the hottest year on record 
  • El Niño impact: Triggered droughts in northern South America, Amazon, and Southern Africa.
  • Wetter-than-average: Central/Western Africa, Lake Victoria basin, Kazakhstan, Southern Russia, Central Europe, Pakistan, Northern India, Southern Iran, and NE China.
• Regional Patterns:
  • Droughts: Amazon Basin, South America (Paraná, Orinoco, São Francisco), Southern Africa (Zambezi, Limpopo, Okavango).
  • Floods: West Africa (Senegal, Niger, Lake Chad, Volta); Europe saw its worst flooding since 2013.
  • Above Normal Discharge: Danube, Ganges, Godavari, Indus, and Central Asian rivers.
• Lakes, Reservoirs, Groundwater
  • Lakes: 75 major lakes showed above-normal summer temperatures → affecting water quality.
  • Groundwater: Only 38% of 37,406 wells (from 47 countries) had normal levels; over-extraction a persistent issue.
  • Reservoirs & Soil Moisture: Recharge in wetter regions (Europe, India); persistent deficits in parts of Africa, Americas, Australia.

Broader Implications

• Ecosystems: Erratic freshwater availability threatens biodiversity.
• Socio-economic: Cascading impacts on food security, energy supply, displacement, and public health.
• Glacier Melt: Sea-level rise threatens hundreds of millions in coastal zones.
• SDG 6 (Water & Sanitation): The world is falling far short of targets.

Recommendations from WMO

• Data Gaps: Only fragmented monitoring exists; “without data, we risk flying blind.”
• Global Collaboration: Need for investment in hydrological monitoring, satellite systems, and data sharing among countries.
• Science-Based Policy: Reliable water intelligence is critical for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

About State of Global Water Resources Report 2023

• Published by: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• Annual report: It  offers a comprehensive and consistent overview of water resources worldwide
  • It is based on input from dozens of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other organisations and experts.

About the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• Nature: The WMO is an intergovernmental organization with 193 member states and territories, including India.
• Origin: It evolved from the International Meteorological Organization, created at the Vienna International Meteorological Congress in 1873.
• Establishment: The WMO was formally established on 23 March 1950 through the ratification of the WMO Convention.
• UN Agency: It later became a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
• Headquarters: Located in Geneva, Switzerland.

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