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Climate change threatens access to clean water to millions of people across the world.

Increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, exacerbate water insecurity, disrupt supplies and devastate communities, according to a new joint report of the World Bank, WHO and UNICEF

The report “State of the World’s Drinking Water”, calls on governments to increase funding, strengthen capacity and regulate service provision if they have to achieve universal access to safe drinking water and mitigate the effects of climate change.

In Kenya, 40 per cent of the population has no access to safe drinking water, according to UNICEF.

Current drought conditions have worsened the situation.

The report notes that over two billion people have gained access to safe drinking water in the past decade but 25 per cent of the global population remains behind – unable to access this vital resource.

Urbanisation

While climate change impacts negatively on access to clean water, rapid urbanisation is increasing the strain on cities capacity to deliver water to the millions of people living in informal communities and slums, according to the report.

“Providing greater access to safe drinking water has saved many lives, most of them children. But climate change is eating into those achievements,” said Maria Neira, WHO director, department of environment, climate change and health.

According to Neira, governments have to accelerate their efforts to ensure every person has reliable access to safe drinking water something that is a human right, not a luxury.

The report further links water, health and development giving recommendations on the way forward.

Among other recommendations of the report is increased access to relevant data and information to better understand inequalities in drinking waters services to ensure good decision-making.