The Murky Future Of Global Water Quality

Population growth, economic development, and climate change are placing increasing pressure on our planet’s water resources. Many studies, including one conducted by IFPRI and Veolia in 2011, depict a future world with elevated tensions due to growing demand for a limited supply of water.

While numerous projections of future water scarcity focus on water quantity, much less is known about how the quality of the global water environment will change. To what extent will human activities and climate change alter future water quality? Answering this question will help us to better target investments to ensure that future generations can also enjoy the benefits of clean water.