Significantly, climate change will add to already existing vulnerabilities. In the case of the Yellow River basin in China, underlining the interface between future water scarcity and hydroclimatic and anthropogenic drivers, a recent study expects moderate-to-severe water scarcity over six Yellow River sub-catchments under the RCP4.5 scenario, and anticipates that human influences on water scarcity will be worse than that of climate change, with water availability in the downstream being impacted by concurrent changes in land use and high temperature . Nearly 8% of internationally shared or transboundary aquifers , ensuring livelihood security for millions of people through sustaining drinking water supply and food production, are currently overstressed due to human overexploitation . The Asia Pacific region has the highest annual water withdrawal due to its geographic size, growing population and irrigation practices, and water for agriculture continues to consume 80% of the region's resources .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report