Earth’s Water Cycle Off-Balance For "First Time In Human History"

Decades of water mismanagement, deforestation, and global warming driven by fossil fuels have placed "unprecedented stress" on Earth's water systems, causing the planet's hydrological cycle to become unbalanced "for the first time in human history," according to a new report, Julia Conley of Common Dreams reported for Raw Story.

The commission emphasized the need for a "new economics of water," recognizing that water connects countries and regions through atmospheric flows as well as bodies of water.

The Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW), affiliated with the Dutch government and composed of global experts, published the study. It warned that policymakers must urgently "reframe the hydrological cycle as a global common good," recognizing its deep connections to the climate and biodiversity crises.

The hydrological cycle refers to the continuous circulation of water between the planet's oceans, land, and atmosphere.

Experts involved in the report cautioned that rising temperatures and pollution—driven by continued fossil fuel emissions—are among the factors "undermining an equitable and sustainable future for all" regarding water access.

The commission emphasized the need for a "new economics of water," recognizing that water connects countries and regions through atmospheric flows as well as bodies of water.

 "We must reshape our shared relationship with water, across borders and cultures, for sustainable, impactful, and just transitions," the commission stated on social media. The report highlighted that both freshwater and land ecosystems have suffered due to mismanagement and the global undervaluation of water.

"We can no longer count on freshwater availability for our collective future."

The report noted that more than 1,000 children die each day from illnesses related to unsafe drinking water, and over half of the world's food production occurs in regions where water supplies are expected to diminish in the coming years.