Global water availability until 2090

Global water availability is likely to be affected by climate change and population growth. A Google Earth animation, made by Deltares and the Utrecht University, shows where water scarcity problems may occur. The indicated change in water availability per capita has been analyzed for the period 1980-2090 with the use of climate data from the IPCC and population growth estimates from IIASA.

To show the impact of climate change and population changes on water availability separately, three global animations have been constructed (from left to right): 

1) Future water availability influenced by climate change only;
2) Future water availability influenced by changes in population density only;
3) Future water availability influenced by the combination of climate change effects and changes in population density.

Animation future water availability with examples of critical areas influenced by the combination of climate change effects and changes in population density.

Read the more detailed description of the procedures followed to calculate the water availability under future changing conditions.