UNEP: Lake pollution worldwide could more than double by mid-century

Lakes, vital reservoirs of freshwater that cover nearly 4 percent of Earth's land surface, are facing an alarming increase in pollution, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

With over 117 million lakes globally, these ecosystems are essential for providing accessible water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry. They also harbor immense biodiversity and play a critical role in climate regulation by storing carbon and mitigating floods. However, UNEP highlights that lakes are not receiving adequate attention, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Experts warn that if current trends of population growth, intensive agriculture, industrial development, and urbanization persist, lake pollution could more than double by the middle of the century. This escalating pollution, stemming from fertilizers, pesticides, industrial waste, and plastic debris, degrades water quality, depletes oxygen, and destroys habitats.

Compounding these issues, climate change exacerbates the problem. Rising temperatures accelerate evaporation, alter water levels, and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, placing further strain on these fragile ecosystems. The consequences are stark: freshwater species populations have declined by 85 percent since 1970, signaling a severe deterioration in the health of the planet's aquatic environments.