Only a third of world’s river basins experienced normal conditions in 2024

Increasingly erratic water cycle is creating food scarcity, rising prices, conflict and migration, says UN agency

Only a third of the world's river basins experienced normal conditions last year as the climate crisis drove extremes of drought and flood, sometimes both in the same region.

The increasingly erratic water cycle is creating big problems for societies and governments and causing billions of dollars in damage, scientists warned.