U.N. report: Earth will only have 60 percent of the water it needs by 2030
A new U.N. report claims that without substantial change, Earth could face a massive water shortage as soon as 2030.
The report, "Water for a Sustainable World," says that in 2030, the Earth will only have 60 percent of the water it needs, if we continue on our current trajectory.
Countries such as India are "rapidly depleting" their groundwater sources, Time reports, and global rainfall is increasingly unpredictable, thanks to climate change. But the population is still increasing, raising the demand for potable water.
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The report suggests increasing the price of water, reducing pollution to improve water quality, and developing new ways to recycle water as potential options for avoiding a water shortage.
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.