28 August 2024

World Water Week is currently taking place in Stockholm. The theme Overcoming borders: water for a peaceful and sustainable futurespeaks of the collective efforts needed to meet global water goals. Our numbers and the impact we have on our environment must be part of the discussion.

This week, interested parties from around the world are meeting to discuss all things related to agua, eau and water during World Water Week. Noticeably missing from the event’s agenda is an explicit mention of population growth as a contributing strain on resources. But as we will explain, our numbers have significant implications and must be taken into account.

Drought and desertification

Our report, Dried Up Futures, shows how population growth is driving drought, desertification and soil erosion, exacerbating the global water crisis. Increased demand is putting pressure on water resources, particularly in drylands where rapid population growth is exacerbating desertification.

Droughts, exacerbated by the climate crisis, disproportionately affect women and girls, causing economic loss and poverty. Solutions focus on the Population Health Environment approach, which integrates family planning and sustainable land management to alleviate water scarcity and environmental pressures in vulnerable regions. Women’s empowerment is key to reducing population pressure and protecting water resources.

Water and population

At the 2023 UN Water Conference, Population Matters highlighted the link between population growth and water scarcity. We advocated for solutions that reduce population pressure, such as promoting gender equality and access to modern contraception.

Discussions focused on the urgent need to consider both water management and population factors to achieve water security and sustainability. Ahead of the conference, we produced a fully referenced briefing document entitled “Achieving SDG6: Water and Population”.

Population growth at regional and global levels is driving water demand in numerous sectors, particularly through the nexus between water, energy and food; it is exacerbating pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss; it is increasing vulnerability to water-related hazards; and it is reducing adaptive capacity and resilience to these hazards.”

Population issues’ Achieving SDG6: Water and Population Briefing

The briefing highlights that population growth in the coming decades will significantly increase global water demand. Particularly in low-income countries, rapid population growth is hindering poverty reduction and hampering development, posing a critical challenge to achieving SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and the other 16 SDGs.

Final thoughts

To effectively address water challenges, it is essential to take population growth into account. Reducing pressure through education, gender equality and access to health services contributes to the sustainability of water supplies. Joint global efforts are key to securing water resources, building resilience to the climate crisis and ensuring long-term development. Indeed, these boundaries must be bridged for a peaceful and sustainable future.