More than half of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs are dwindling and placing humanity's future water security at risk, with climate change and unsustainable consumption the main culprits, a study said on May 18, 2023. AFP FILE PHOTOWASHINGTON: More than half of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs are dwindling and placing humanity's future water security at risk, with climate change and unsustainable consumption the main culprits, a study said Thursday. The results: 53 percent of lakes and reservoirs saw a decline in water storage, at a rate of approximately 22 gigatons a year. Increased temperatures from climate change drive evaporation, but can also decrease precipitation in some places. Globally, freshwater lakes and reservoirs store 87 percent of the planet's liquid freshwater, underscoring the urgency of new strategies for sustainable consumption and climate mitigation.
