By early 2025, almost half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity, according to UNICEF. What’s more, by 2030, some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity and 1-in-4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress.

Yet the intrinsic link between the water crisis and climate change can often be overlooked. Climate change disrupts rainfall patterns, increases evaporation with higher temperatures, and melts glaciers – all of which impact water availability. Sea levels are rising and extreme weather events – driven by climate change – cause flooding and damage water systems. Natural water regulations are impacted by changes within ecosystems, and these changes only worsen water scarcity across the globe.

Read more in a Sustainability Magazine interview with Emilio Tenuta, chief sustainability officer of Ecolab. Tenuta is a member of The Water Council's board.