Despite an increasing lack of resources "we are still acting in a very wasteful way".
"This is of great concern. It is a problem that basically comes down to the future of mankind," he said.
Mr Gorbachev said by 2020 the "water crisis" would spread across half the world, leaving many countries without drinking water and proper sanitation.
"This kind of situation could only result in a global cataclysm," he said.
"The position of Green Cross International calls for accelerated use of renewable sources of energy, in particular solar energy,"
"At the same time, we are calling for serious and effective steps to more efficiently use the traditional sources of energy."
