Climate change is affecting the essential elements needed for good health which include reliable access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services. The climate crisis affects how much water is available and to what quality. By 2050, between 42% and 95% of the world’s population is predicted to be living with a severe lack of water, threatening the health and lives of more than 5 billion people.
WaterAid calls decision makers to:
i. Urgently scale up investment in climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure.
ii. Prioritize investment for WASH in health care facilities facing increased pressure on public health systems in times of public health emergencies, such as cholera outbreaks made worse by climate change.