Desalination Growth Amid Climate Change
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Apr 01, 2026 · Last updated Apr 01, 2026
The growing reliance on desalination due to climate change presents opportunities for companies in water management and environmental services. However, the energy intensity and environmental impact of desalination, as highlighted by the study in Water Research, also pose challenges and drive innovation in renewable energy and efficient membrane technology.
As climate change intensifies droughts and disrupts rainfall, regions worldwide are increasingly turning to desalination to produce freshwater. This process, primarily reverse osmosis, removes salt from seawater and currently supplies hundreds of millions of people. Countries like Kuwait and Oman rely on it for over 85% of their drinking water, and its use is expanding globally at about 7% annually. However, desalination is energy-intensive, contributing significantly to carbon emissions, and its byproduct, brine, can harm marine ecosystems. Efforts are underway to mitigate these impacts through renewable energy, efficient membranes, and deep-sea operations, while experts also advocate for water recycling and conservation as more sustainable alternatives.
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