67% of global population could live under water scarcity in 2050

It is one of the figures given at the Webinar on Water Security and Climate Change in 2021 organized by the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources and its colleagues from Cologne University of Applied Sciences, University of Hohenheim and Technical University of Braunschweig.

The Webinar consisting of 20 sessions with the participation of more than 170 speakers and about 800 participants was held in 4 days from 1st to 3rd March 2021.

At the opening session, Mr. Nguyen Vu Viet, Director of the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources shared that today water security and climate change are more linked to each other as we are facing many adverse impacts that change the way we use, manage and adapt to water as well as its changeable factors.

It is forecasted that in 2030 nearly 50% of the global population would live in severely water – constrained areas and 67% of the global population could live under water – stressed conditions in 2050.

According to a report of Mr. Nguyen Tung Phong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Water Resources, Vietnam is among countries most seriously affected by climate change. Climate change impacts are causing an increasing number of extreme natural disasters. In the past 20 years, about 10,800 people have died, an average loss from 1% to 1.5% of annual GDP, most of which are stemmed from water – related disasters.

According to a research of the Vietnamese Authorities, if the average sea level rises 1 meter, about 39% area of the Mekong River Delta, 11 % area of Red River Delta and 3% area of other coastal provinces are inundated and an estimated 10% - 12% of national population will be directly affected and about 10% of GDP will be shrinked.

Mr. Nguyen Vu Viet also shared at the Conference that scientific and social discussions on Water security and Climate Change are receiving more attention, especially in Vietnam where we suffer many negative impacts of climate change and development that lead to unsafe water resource for nature, agriculture and livelihood.

The Government and Ministries are working on a special program to address water security at national level, focusing on the quantity and quality of water, natural water and water- using efficiency.

“We hope that there will be more effective discussions between partners, scientists, policy – makers and practitioners on thematic areas of the Conference. Such discussions will serve as a bridge that links us for the promotion of further cooperation.”, said Mr. Viet.