Recently, the State of Global Water Resources report 2023 has been published.

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.

Key Findings from State of Global Water Resources Report 2023

• Driest year: 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades.
• Below-normal river flows: Widespread below-average river flows for five consecutive years.
• Reservoir inflows: Similar pattern to river flows, reducing water for communities, agriculture, and ecosystems.
• Glacier mass loss: 2023 recorded the second consecutive year of global ice loss across all glacier regions.
• Hydrological extremes: The hottest year on record in 2023 led to prolonged droughts and significant floods.

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Causes of Extreme Hydrological Events

• Influenced by climate change and the transition from La Niña to El Niño in mid-2023.
• Rising temperatures are accelerating the hydrological cycle, making it more erratic and unpredictable.
• Warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, contributing to heavy rainfall, floods.

Challenges Highlighted by the State of Global Water Resources Report 2023

• Water security: Melting glaciers threaten long-term water security for millions.
• Insufficient data: Limited understanding of the world’s freshwater resources, highlighting the need for better data collection and sharing.
• Impact on SDGs: The world is off track on achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (clean water and sanitation).
• Water access crisis: Currently, 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water for at least a month per year, expected to increase to over 5 billion by 2050.

Future Outlook

• UN Water Forecast: Predicts that water scarcity will worsen, and more than 5 billion people will face inadequate access by 2050.
• Global Early Warnings Initiative: Aims to improve water-related hazard monitoring and provide early warning systems for all by 2027.

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About the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• The WMO is an intergovernmental organisation with 193 member states and territories. 
• India is one of the Member States of the WMO.
• Origin: WMO originated from the International Meteorological Organization, the roots of which were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
• Establishment: WMO was established by ratifying the WMO Convention on 23rd March 1950.
• Specialized Agency: It became the specialised agency of the United Nations for Meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Governance Structure:
  • Supreme body: World Meteorological Congress 
    • Consists of representatives of all members. 
    • Meets at least every four years to set general policy and adopt regulations.
  • 36-member Executive Council: Meets annually and implements policy.
  • Secretariat: Headed by a secretary-general
    • Appointed by the congress for a four-year term, serves as the administrative centre of the organisation.