In 2023, record heat worsened the consequences of drying rivers.
World Meteorological Organization under the UN WMO saysthat last year was the driest for rivers in 30 years.
The organization states in its report that during the last five years, river flows have been lower than normal. At the same time, however, frequent extreme events caused serious floods, the occurrence of which is strengthened by human-caused climate change.
For example, in South America, the Amazon River suffers from a severe water shortage, which prevents normal traffic in the river.
The WMO says the glaciers that feed the rivers will shrink more in 2023 than in any year in the past five decades. Last year was already the second year in a row when glaciers were shrinking in all regions of the world.
The Finnish Meteorological Organization warns that the evaporation of glaciers endangers the long-term water security of millions of people around the world.
The report states that already 3.6 billion people face difficulties in getting water at least once a month. The figure is predicted to rise to five million by 2050.
AFP, Reuters