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] Up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050, seeking better living conditions as water becomes scarce, agricultural productivity declines, and sea levels rise. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] By 2050, more than 75,000 homes and 20,000 acres of wetlands could be at risk. The Dirt
• [New] Exxon plans to have a fully operational treatment facility by the end of 2026 as part of its goal to deliver sustainable water solutions for the Permian. Insurance Journal
• [New] Atmospheric rivers are again threatening Abbotsford and other southern B.C. communities, yet there has been little progress on reducing flood risks. vancouversun
• [New] By around 2030, the probability of a water shortage event is estimated at roughly 1%, rising to about 5% by 2050 as climate change and water demand increase. FoxesSellFaster.com
• [New] Researchers project a roughly 17% increase in water usage by 2050 for the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. FoxesSellFaster.com
• [New] Under the stress of climate change, population growth, and rising industrial demand, particularly from data centers, the Potomac River may no longer be able to meet the drinking water needs of the DC region during a severe drought by 2030. FoxesSellFaster.com
• [New] Recent attacks on Operational Technology (OT) systems, such as the breach of a Norwegian water dam via weak credentials, highlight a stark reality: Legacy systems, fragmented defences and human error remain common vulnerabilities. Security Journal UK
• [New] Iran's water crisis is affecting the Iranian regime's ability to provide electricity to its citizens, which could eventually lead to domestic unrest. Critical Threats
• [New] Responsible: EA, water companies, regional water resources groups Reduce water company abstraction from chalk streams by 126 million liters per day by 2030. GOV.UK
• [New] Responsible: Water companies, Ofwat, EA Invest £10 billion into storm overflow improvements in England from 2025 to 2030 to improve over 2,500 overflows. GOV.UK
• [New] Rising sea levels and increased cyclonic activity further endanger coastal populations, while escalating tensions over water sharing, public health crises, and climate-induced migration underscore Pakistan's profound vulnerability. MorungExpress
• [New] Iranian affiliated hackers hit public infrastructure like water facilities, exploiting PLC vulnerabilities to demonstrate they could disrupt physical processes. DeepStrike
• [New] The 13th annual World Ocean Summit comes at a turning point: the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty has been ratified, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is going to reshape seafood supply chains, and new science warns we have breached the planetary boundary on ocean acidification. World Ocean Summit & Expo |
• [New] Extreme weather events, storms, heatwaves, floods and drought cycles, will increase in frequency as global temperatures rise. Metro
• [New] Storms in South and Southeast Asia, flooding across Europe and the UK, and continued drought and storm systems affecting North and Central America have already triggered multi-day port closures, inland transport disruption and delays to export manufacturing in Q4. Metro
• [New] Iran is facing one of the most severe energy disruptions in its modern history, marked by recurring blackouts, water scarcity, and an overstretched power grid. bricsgrain
• [New] Weather alerts are in effect across the Pacific north-west this week as a series of atmospheric rivers are forecast to deliver multiple rainfall events and heavy mountain snow from western British Columbia in Canada, to Washington and Oregon in the US. The Guardian
• [New] Extreme weather events such as storm surges, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion, along with rising water-related disasters, threaten the region, which already accounts for more than 40% of the world's floods. Al Jazeera
• [New] The impact of climate change on Asia's water systems poses a risk to billions. Al Jazeera
• [New] Europe is facing increasing water scarcity, water quality degradation, and climate-related threats to both human well-being and economic competitiveness. EUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politics
• [New] Spain, which is already struggling with extreme drought, will see its dry season increase by 40% with AMOC and 60% without it. Live Science

Last updated: 20 December 2025