Emily ThompsonAs foreign as this sounds to people living in Western, civilized countries, water scarcity affects over two billion people worldwide and is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st centurySeveral factors, including climate change, population growth, and poor resource management, exacerbate the crisis, threatening food security, public health, and economic stability. By 2050, water stress could reduce GDP in affected regions by up to 8% and heighten resource disputes, increasing conflict risks.
