Released on January 20, 2026, at the UN Headquarters in New York, the report argues that the world has moved beyond a temporary "water crisis" into a state of "global water bankruptcy".
Key Takeaways from the Report
- Definition: "Water bankruptcy" describes a state where water systems cannot return to historical baselines due to over-extraction and permanent damage.
- A "New Normal": Prof. Madani emphasizes that the old "normal" is gone, and this report provides a diagnosis for a long-term, systemic issue.
- Scale of the Crisis: The report highlights that 75% of the global population resides in water-insecure areas, 4 billion people face severe scarcity monthly, and over 2 billion live on land sinking due to aquifer collapse.
- The Financial Analogy: Humanity is consuming the "principal" of its water capital rather than just the "interest".
- Call for Action: The report advocates shifting from "crisis management" to "bankruptcy management"—focusing on stopping the depletion of water resources.
