WMO warns global freshwater storage is declining
The World Meteorological Organization's State of Global Water Resources 2025 report, released on September 17, finds the global water cycle is becoming more erratic with widespread declines in freshwater stored on land since the mid-2010s. In 2025, 42% of the world recorded freshwater storage below historical norms, rivers had one of their driest years in 35 years of monitoring, two-thirds of monitored wells were outside historical norms, and glaciers lost about 1,400 gigatonnes between 2023 and 2025. The report links these shifts to increased drought and flood risks and calls for better monitoring, early warning and measures to limit climate drivers.
Freshwater reserves and river flows are declining and becoming more erratic.
Context
The WMO published the State of Global Water Resources 2025 report on September 17. It found long-term freshwater declines since about 2016 and warned a stronger El Niño could raise drought and flood risks.
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