Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Global demand for fresh water is expected to outpace sustainable supply by 40% in 2030. Global water demand will climb in tandem with population and economic growth. At least two-thirds of the world's population will face 'water stress' by 2025 and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100 bring significant risk of unrest and conflict. The UN Security Council will have to declare water a strategic resource of humanity and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations. Organizations will be expected to play their part in conserving water.

• [New] Agricultural forecasters in the U.S. now expect farmers to lose more than 40% of the cotton crop, while many acres of farmland are being left unplanted because of water shortages. The Council of Industry
• [New] The Spanish government has committed to doubling national installed desalination and reuse capacity by 2027, backed by €23 billion in public funding. EU Blue Economy Observatory
• [New] Under climate change, many regions in the EU - especially southern European Member States - and globally are expected to face severe water scarcity. EU Blue Economy Observatory
• [New] SpaceX specifically cited droughts, water scarcity, local competition for resources, and regulatory restrictions as potential threats to future growth. IMFOUNDER
• [New] In certain water-scarce areas of the country such as California or Arizona, AI might compete for limited water resources with other use cases. Atlantic Council
• [New] On the West Coast, ports in Southern California are likely to see flooding (Monterey and Eureka are also likely to see higher water levels than usual), while every major harbour in the Hawaiian Islands is predicted to see high-tide flooding. US Harbors
• [New] Improving seasonal forecasts - which predict likely global weather patterns up to three months ahead - is increasingly important for helping governments, businesses and public services prepare for risks including flooding, drought, heatwaves and severe winter weather. RMetS
• [New] Fueled by unusually warm ocean waters in the tropical Pacific, El Nino conditions are developing and are set to influence global temperature and rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of extreme weather over the coming months. EarthSky | Updates on your cosmos and world
• [New] Expanding populations, projected to grow by 2 billion by 2050, are accelerating large-scale desalination investments. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Backed by IDE's proven innovation in water technology, the Harbour Island Desalination Facility will solve for a critical water need in South Texas and help to diversify and strengthen the overall water supply. Rutland Herald
• [New] The project, which is designed to deliver 100 million gallons of water per day to South Texas, will be the largest seawater desalination facility in the Western Hemisphere. Rutland Herald
• [New] A report from the UK Parliament warns of a 1.3 billion gallon daily water shortage in England if action is not taken to address climate change and industrial growth. Circle of Blue
• [New] Water scarcity driven by climate change could cost India $2.5 trillion by 2050 if irrigation infrastructure is not overhauled. The New Indian Express
• [New] See Overconsumption gravely threatens water security in the binational Rio Grande-Bravo basin. Sierra County Citizen
• [New] Google will evaluate projects on the basis of volumetric benefits (in millions of gallons per year MGY) following the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting 2.0 Guidance as the industry standard. Google Data Centers
• [New] Google aims to replenish more freshwater than we consume by 2030 and help improve water quality and ecosystem health in the communities where we operate. Google Data Centers
• [New] Protecting 30% of Canada's ocean by 2030 is science-based, achievable, and essential to ensure a sustainable future. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
• [New] In the North Atlantic, well-designed MPA networks safeguarding 30-40% of the deep ocean could protect about 75% of species, like coral and sponges, that provide habitats for many other marine animals. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
• [New] 87% of the world's ocean has been disturbed by human activities like industrial fishing and shipping, and the impacts of human activities on the ocean are estimated to more than double by 2050. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
• [New] The world's oceans will become increasingly warmer and acidic, sea levels will continue to rise, and storm and ocean circulation patterns will be altered because of anthropogenic inputs of carbon in the atmosphere. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Forecasts show the ocean economy could surpass US$ 5 trillion by the early 2030s, growing 6 to 8% annually, with even higher growth in offshore renewables, sustainable aquaculture, ocean data, and advanced technologies. Ocean News & Technology
• [New] In South Punjab, Pakistan, water insecurity increased women's and girls' vulnerability to harassment and gender - and caste-based violence, including sextortion. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In South Africa, women were particularly affected by the constant fear of water shortages. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 06 June 2026