The Water Crisis

The World Economic Forum, in 2015, termed water crisis as the greatest threat facing the planet in the next decade. More than three-fourths of all jobs in the world (the total number of jobs is twice India's population) directly depend on water. This includes both the jobs in water management and infrastructure, but jobs in activities that need water as a primary input. 45% of the global GDP is at risk due to dwindling water resources. This will directly affect about half of the world's population, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

2.6 billion

Number of jobs that directly depend on water. This is 78% of all jobs. Of these, 1.6 billion or 42% are "heavily dependent" on water, according to the UNESCO's report. These include jobs in agriculture, inland fishing and also power generation.

475 million

Jobs in just the industrial sector that are 'heavily dependent' on water. This is about 30% of all industrial jobs in the world. This includes in food processing, textiles and pharmaceutical industries.

1.1 billion

 36% of the workforce, that is about 1.1 billion persons, are involved in moderately water-dependent sectors. This includes paper manufacturing, rubber, plastics and construction. About 60% of all industrial and 30% of all service sector jobs come under this.

$2.5 billion

The expected financial impact from water risks for 405 companies surveyed last year by the Carbon Disclosure Project. About half the companies said they will face business risks within 3 years due to water scarcity One-third of the companies said they are already facing detrimental impacts from water.