Reuters: Water shortages will be the world’s most pressing problem in the next decade, compounded by a growing global population, Britain’s chief scientist John Beddington said on Tuesday. Climate change is forecast to disrupt rainfall patterns, leading to more severe droughts and floods, posing problems for the supply of fresh water. The world’s population of about 6.6 billion is forecast to rise by 2.5 billion by 2050, while growing wealth and urbanization is fuelling demand for …