Demand for water set to outstrip supply by 50 per cent by 2040

Madeleine Cuff
clock •

Next two decades will see massive surge in global demand for water, putting 57 per cent of the global economy at risk of water scarcity, new analysis reveals

By 2040 the gap between the global demand for freshwater and its supply will hit 50 per cent, intensifying the competition for global water resources in a way that will impact businesses across a range...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Risk

Latest agricultural yield estimates point to 'worst harvest on record'

Latest agricultural yield estimates point to 'worst harvest on record'

Snap analysis of new estimates from Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board confirms heatwaves and droughts set to result in record low production for key crops

James Murray
clock 25 September 2026 • 3 min read
Study: Summer heatwaves resulted in loss of 240 million litres of milk

Study: Summer heatwaves resulted in loss of 240 million litres of milk

Dairy farmers faced £83m hit as extreme heat led to reduced production throughout the summer

James Murray
clock 25 September 2026 • 4 min read
TNFD unveils nature-risk guidance for data centres, telecoms, and semiconductor firms

TNFD unveils nature-risk guidance for data centres, telecoms, and semiconductor firms

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures urges tech, telecom, and AI sectors to assess and manage growing water resource and environmental risks

Michael Holder
clock 25 September 2026 • 3 min read