Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Markets and Companies, Statistics, Water

Using a combination of climate models and socio-economic scenarios, the World Resources Institute (WRI) scored and ranked future water stress in 167 countries. The institute found that Estonia could face a significant increase in water stress by 2040, and that would put pressure on businesses, farms and the entire society.

In addition to 33 countries facing extremely high water stress, the analysis found that Chile, Estonia, Namibia and Botswana could also feel the “thirst” by 2040.

As Estonia could be 36th in the global water stress rankings in 25 years' time, rising by 46 positions in comparison with 2010. Of all EU countries, only Spain and Greece would be worse off.

Fourteen of the 33 likely most water stressed countries in 2040 are in the Middle East, including nine considered extremely highly stressed with a score of 5.0 out of 5.0: Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Lebanon. The region, already arguably the least water-secure in the world, draws heavily upon groundwater and desalinated sea water, and faces exceptional water-related challenges for the foreseeable future.

While they will probably not face the extreme water stress blanketing the Middle East in 2040, global superpowers such as the United States, China and India face water risks of their own. High water stress in all three countries are projected to remain roughly constant through 2040. However, specific areas of each, such as the southwestern U.S. and China’s Ningxia province, could see water stress increase by up to 40 to 70%.