Water scarcity refers to the lack of water sources, including drinking water, to meet the needs of a population. Production of textiles for the fashion industry is responsible for a high proportion of worldwide water use, which is especially alarming considering that textile production largely takes place in regions that already suffer from scarce water resources, such as India and China. Research estimates that 4 billion people (half the global population)(1) face severe water scarcity for at least 1 month a year, and almost 50% of these live in India and China.(2) Half a billion people then live in severe water scarcity all year round.(2) Global water scarcity is exacerbated by climate change and population growth (UN projections: 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, 10.9 billion in 2100).(1) The 2019 World Economic Forum Global Risks report lists water crisis as one of the most critical concerns for the next decade.(3-5)
WATER SCARCITY
