A report by the World Bank shows that continents are losing fresh water at an alarming rate, with serious implications for ecosystems and agriculture.

According to a recent report by the World Bank, the continents of Earth are losing fresh water at an alarming rate, equivalent to four Olympic swimming pools per second. This aridification, caused by melting ice, evaporation, and groundwater extraction, severely affects water availability. Local water-related issues can become international challenges, with an annual contribution of 324 billion cubic meters of lost water, enough to meet the needs of 280 million people.

The report is based on 22 years of data from NASA's GRACE mission and shows that arid regions are the most affected, with a loss of 10% of annual net precipitation income. Continental drying increases the risk of wildfires, affecting areas with high biodiversity. Groundwater extraction is the main culprit, and improving water use efficiency in agriculture could save significant resources. Measures such as regulating extraction and using modern technologies are essential to address this crisis.