Ian Explains: The problem of our diminishing water supply

Water is a vital resource the world can't live without, yet it's something we often overlook. Did you know that there is only one ocean on Earth? It's true. It might have a different name depending on where you are in the world––Atlantic, Pacific, Indian––but they're all connected. And they cover a staggering 71% of our planet's surface, representing 96% of all water on earth.

Freshwater, the kind we need to survive, is becoming scarcer every day, Ian Bremmer explains on GZERO World. Climate change and increasing demand for water are putting pressure on one of the world's most precious resources. As a result, droughts and severe water scarcity are becoming more common.

Four billion people, half of the world's population, experience at least a month of water scarcity each year, which could displace as many as 700 million people by 2030. Water scarcity leads to hunger, displacement, and conflict, which makes protecting the world's water supply one of our most urgent problems.

While we've made efforts to protect our oceans, scientists say we need to do more to ensure we have access to the freshwater we need.

Watch the GZERO World episode: The uncomfortable truth about water scarcity