As the world grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, a new crisis is emerging – a surge in water-related violence that has almost doubled since 2022. Experts warn that this alarming trend, fuelled by a complex web of factors, requires urgent attention and action.
According to the Pacific Institute, a US-based think tank, there were 419 incidents of water-related violence recorded in 2024, up from 235 in 2022. Dr. Peter Gleick, a co-founder and senior fellow at the institute, explains that these conflicts are “multicausal,” with the climate crisis and extreme weather playing a significant role, but also factors such as state failure, incompetent or corrupt governments, and the lack of or misuse of infrastructure.
Joanna Trevor, Oxfam’s water security lead, has also witnessed an “increase in localised conflicts over water due to climate change and water insecurity.” Recent examples include tensions over the Indus River water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan after a terrorist attack, Russia targeting hydropower dams in Ukraine, Israel destroying Gaza’s water systems, and protests over water supplies in South Africa.
In Gaza, Israel has “systematically weaponised water,” deliberately targeting water systems and desalination plants, and blocking repairs. This has led to wastewater contaminating drinking water due to the destruction of sewage and storm water infrastructure, and people have been attacked while waiting or queuing for water.
The situation is equally dire in East Africa and the Sahel, where water is becoming increasingly insecure, leading to people moving into new areas to access water, which can trigger competition and conflict with the host population.
Gleick warns that even in the United States, the Colorado River and the Rio Grande have become “increasingly politically contentious” in recent years, with tensions arising over the 1944 treaties that govern the sharing of water between the US and Mexico.
The United Nations is sounding the alarm, predicting that global freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40% by 2030. UNESCO reports that while approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in transboundary river and lake basins, only a fifth of countries have cross-border agreements to share resources equitably.
Joanna Trevor emphasizes the need for “more accountable transboundary treaties” that cater to all people and secure their human right to water, going beyond the current voluntary agreements that rely on goodwill.
Gleick remains optimistic, stating that “we can solve our water problems,” but it will require addressing the impacts of climate change on water, meeting basic human needs and rights for water, addressing ecosystem problems, and reducing the risks of conflict over water resources.
As the world grapples with this emerging crisis, it is clear that water-related violence is a global threat that demands immediate and concerted action from policymakers, international organizations, and communities alike.
