Scientists call for urgent action to protect global groundwater

Governments and international committees must recognise the crucial contribution of groundwater to climate resilience and sustainable development, urges a group of international scientists and practitioners including from UCL. The call to action and threats to, global groundwater supplies - which make up 99% of the Earth's liquid freshwater. Over 700 scientists, practitioners and experts from over 80 countries around the world have signed the statement. Co-author of the Nature Correspondence, Professor Richard G. Taylor (UCL Geography), reports: "In low-income countries across the tropics, groundwater is a vital source of freshwater enabling access to safe drinking water as well as improving food security and livelihoods through irrigated agriculture." The scientists highlight that groundwater is the drinking water source for more than two billion people and provides more than 40% of the water for irrigated agriculture worldwide. However, around 1.7 billion people live above aquifers - geological formations providing groundwater - that are stressed by overuse. The report comes amid the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Madrid (COP 25), the beginning of the Decade of Action on the UN Agenda 2030, and the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the world's largest gathering of Earth scientists. The scientists say we are not doing enough to protect and manage global groundwater resources, which will have long-term effects on the planet's drinking water, food production, and adaptation to a rapidly changing climate.   "Groundwater is the forgotten secret that we have under our feet, yet it is critical to the lives of nearly everyone.