United Nations’ Report on Interconnected Disaster Risks (2023)
The latest publication from the United Nations, titled “Report on Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023,” and released by the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), has brought attention to alarmingly depleting groundwater reserves and their potential repercussions.
The report underscores that specific regions within the Indo-Gangetic basin in India have exceeded a crucial point in groundwater depletion. It predicts that the entire northwestern country will experience significantly restricted groundwater availability by 2025.
Roughly 70% of groundwater withdrawals are directed into agriculture, a lifeline, mainly when surface-level water sources fall short. Acting as underground water reservoirs, aquifers play a vital role in alleviating drought-induced agricultural losses—a challenge set to intensify with climate change.
However, the report issues a stark caution: numerous key aquifers globally are depleting faster than they can naturally recharge. When the water table sinks below the reach of existing wells, it not only imperils farmers’ water access but also puts entire food production systems at risk.
Certain countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have already surpassed the tipping point for groundwater peril, while others, including India, stand on the verge. India takes centre stage in the report as the world’s leading consumer of groundwater, outpacing the United States and China combined.
![Burning Issue] Groundwater Depletion in India - Civilsdaily](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/editorial-10.jpg)
The northwestern region, encompassing states like Punjab, is a vital agrarian hub, contributing 21 per cent and 31 per cent of the nation’s rice and wheat, respectively. Yet, 78% of wells in Punjab are labelled as overexploited, and by 2025, the entire region is slated to face low groundwater levels.
Jack O’Connor, lead author and senior expert at UNU-EHS underscores the urgency, emphasising that their impacts will manifest as the tipping points loom. The crossing of these thresholds makes reversing the changes increasingly formidable.
Global Tipping Points: A Looming Crisis
The report identifies six critical global tipping points:
- Accelerating extinction
- Depletion of groundwater
- Proliferation of space debris
- Melting mountain glaciers
- Intolerable heat
- An uncertain future
What are tipping points?
Tipping points represent crucial thresholds for the Earth, beyond which irreversible damage occurs to the environment, leading to catastrophic shifts in ecosystems and contributing to the escalating challenges of climate change.
Groundwater in India
In a concerning revelation about India’s water resources, the Ground Water Resource Assessment-2022 disclosed a potential crisis.
Out of the country’s annual water stash of 1,123 billion cubic meters, a crucial 433 billion cubic meters came from groundwater. Here’s the kicker: despite a seemingly decent annual recharge of 437 billion cubic meters, the actual withdrawal was a whopping 239 billion cubic meters.
This put our national groundwater extraction at a risky 60.08%, almost near the critical 70% threshold. Regions like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan were sounding alarms, with groundwater blocks witnessing over 100% extraction.
The most recent UN report on Interconnected Disaster Risks intensifies the apprehension, emphasising the immediate need to confront and combat the imminent water crisis. These figures transcend mere statistics; they serve as a wake-up call, sounding an urgent alarm that demands our attention and concerted action.
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