UN weather agency warns of sustained disruptions to global freshwater supplies

The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Thursday that abnormal water supplies are becoming the new global norm, citing persistent disruptions to river flows, groundwater levels and glacier mass. The agency’s statement highlighted a pattern of sustained changes across major freshwater sources, indicating that the variability once considered exceptional is now increasingly regular.

The WMO’s assessment underscores the growing challenges for water management, agriculture and ecosystems worldwide as traditional water cycles shift. By documenting simultaneous declines in river discharge, reductions in groundwater recharge and accelerated glacier melt, the agency emphasizes the need for coordinated monitoring and adaptation strategies to address the evolving hydrological landscape.