Report: Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023

This year’s edition analyses six interconnected risk tipping points, representing immediate and increasing risks across the world.

One of the six focuses is groundwater depletion. Groundwater supplies drinking water to over 2 billion people and around 70 per cent of withdrawals are used for agriculture. However, 21 out of 37 of the world’s major aquifers are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. 

For example, the High Plains aquifer in the United States supplies one third of all groundwater for irrigation used in the country and supports over $35 billion worth of crops such as wheat and soy. However, as unsustainable groundwater extraction continues, around 40 per cent of the aquifer’s area will not support irrigation by the year 2100. 

• Explore the report here.