31 - Freshwater Resources
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The biggest issue here is the disappearance of the glaciers. They serve as reservoirs of fresh water in solid form and melt to supply downstream irrigation for crops.
3Causes
Melting glaciers threaten water supplies. Indeed, the relative importance of glacier melt water in summer can be considerable, contributing for example to 25% of August flows in the basins draining the European Alps, with an area of about 105 km2 and only 1% glacial cover. Their disappearance could be catastrophic for cities located in valleys watered by rivers flowing down from the surrounding mountains and for freshwater fauna. Glacier meltwater also increases in importance during droughts and heat waves.
Flooding can lead in some cases to contamination of freshwater resources and affect drinking water systems.
3Consequences
Οι πόροι του γλυκού νερού παίζουν κρίσιμο ρόλο στην οικονομική και κοινωνική ανάπτυξη, και οι διαφορές στην πρόσβαση και τη διαχείριση αυτών των πόρων μπορούν να επιδεινώσουν τις υπάρχουσες ανισότητες. Επομένως, η βιώσιμη και δίκαιη διαχείριση του νερού είναι ουσιώδης για την προώθηση μιας ισορροπημένης και χωρίς αποκλεισμούς ανάπτυξης.
Sources : AR6 WG2 FAQ 8.1 p1263 (p1251) // AR6 WG2 8.2.1.2 p1190 (pp1178)
1Other possible cause
If seawater rises, it can penetrate the water tables, which are freshwater reserves.
1Other possible consequence
If we consider that hunger and famines are not only a lack of food but also a lack of water.