A REVIEW OF THE WORLD’S WATER SCARCITY AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS PRESERVATION MEASUREMENTS, INCLUDING INDIA
*Dr. Pritam Ghosh, *Mr. Nilotpal Das, #Mr. Argha Mandal, *Prof. Binoy Kumar Saren
*Department of Agronomy, #Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan, West Bengal – – 731236, India
ABSTRACT – Strategic fresh water supplies for global water and food security will deteriorate because climate change results in stronger floods and droughts, violent cyclones, extreme heat and cold events and altered water systems which lead to declining water reserves and unpredictable rainfall patterns combined with aquifer saltwater penetration and growing agricultural irrigation needs and diminished soil moisture levels and quick surface water evaporation. With a focus on Indian water resources, this analysis sheds light on how climate change affects water volume and quality globally, as well as conservation measures to lessen water scarcity. An estimated 20% of the rise in water scarcity worldwide is thought to be caused by climate change brought on by global warming. Over the past century, the world’s water consumption has increased sixfold, and it is predicted to continue growing quickly in the upcoming decades. Two-third of the world’s population may live under water stress conditions by 2025, and 1.8 billion people will reside in nations or areas with complete water scarcity. The continent of Africa is most severely impacted by water scarcity. India’s gross per capita water availability is expected to drop from approximately 1820 m3 annually in 2001 to as low as approximately 1140 m3 in 2050. By 2050, the nation will require 1180 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water each year. Therefore, water resources must be used sustainably, climate adaptation plans be developed, the public and government be made aware of the depletion of water supplies, and immediate steps be taken to conserve and harvest water locally, nationally, and internationally.
KEYWORDS – Climate change, depletion, conservation, water scarcity, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).