People worldwide, including in Peru and Indonesia, struggle for access to clean water amid climate change-induced droughts and mismanagement.
In regions like Morocco and California, changing environmental conditions and human activities compound water scarcity issues.
Innovative solutions, like rainwater harvesting in Kenya, emerge as communities adapt to these challenges.
Key quote:
“Everything was green. We drank from the river and washed with the river. We made a life with it.”
— Mimoun Nadori
Why this matters:
Climate change's significant effects on weather patterns has intensified droughts in some areas while causing floods in others, both scenarios leading to a scarcity of potable water. Overuse and pollution of water sources further exacerbate this scarcity.
New research shows what scientists call an irreversible decline in freshwater storage in Asia. The drying up of the Tibetan Plateau, the world's largest freshwater reserve, would impact billions of people on the continent.
As climate change alters our world, Michigan's bounty of fresh water — if managed smartly — could be the foundation of a thriving state economy and superior quality of life.
