"One Side Faces Drought, the Other Floods... Global Water Imbalance Intensifies"

World Meteorological Organization Releases Global Water Resources Report
"Climate Change Triggers Opposite Extreme Weather Events by Region"
"Imbalance in Global River Flows, Deterioration of Lake Water Quality"

Warnings have been issued that climate change is intensifying the global imbalance of water resources. According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 18th (local time), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, pointed out in its newly released "Global Water Resources Status 2024" report that "while one part of the planet continues to suffer from severe drought, other regions are experiencing catastrophic floods due to heavy rainfall, resulting in extreme weather events that are polar opposites depending on the region."

A farmer is walking in the Chibaishi Wetland, which has been affected by drought in southern Iraq. Photo by AFP

In this report, the WMO emphasized that 2024 has been recorded as the year with the highest average temperature in the 175-year history of climate observation. As a result, prolonged droughts have occurred in northern South America, the Amazon River basin, and southern Africa. In contrast, in regions such as Central Africa, Europe, and Asia, increased precipitation compared to previous years has led to major floods and, in many cases, human casualties due to more powerful typhoons and other extreme weather events.

In other words, it has become increasingly difficult to predict the Earth's water cycle. In particular, the report highlighted a clear imbalance in river flows worldwide. The analysis found that only one-third of river basins had normal flow rates, while the remaining two-thirds experienced either excessive or insufficient flow. This imbalance in river basins has continued for six consecutive years.

The rise in average temperatures has also led to the deterioration of water quality in major lakes, and the size of glaciers has decreased for three consecutive years. As meltwater from glaciers flows into the oceans, the global sea level has risen by 1.2 millimeters in just one year, increasing the risk of drowning for coastal residents.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, warned in the report, "The pressure on global water resources is mounting. Weather-related water anomalies are having an ever-greater impact on lives and livelihoods."

Houses are being flooded after heavy rain in Denpasar, Bali Island, Indonesia. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Recently, climate-related organizations have been sounding the alarm about the Earth's water cycle. According to a report by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) in March, rainfall in major cities across southern Africa has increased by about 60% compared to pre-industrial levels.

International nonprofit organization WaterAid analyzed 42 years of accumulated weather data from 112 of the world's most populous cities. Among these 112 cities, 17 have experienced severe climate extremes, with the climate becoming either much wetter or much drier. These cities include Hangzhou in China, Jakarta in Indonesia, Dallas in the United States, and Tokyo in Japan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.