Governing water as a system

Why water must be governed differently

Water is not only a resource under pressure—it is the system through which climate change, ecosystem decline, and economic instability are experienced.

Yet governance approaches remain fragmented. Policies on climate, land, biodiversity, and development are often designed and implemented in isolation, despite being physically interconnected through water systems. This limits effectiveness and makes it harder to manage increasingly complex risks.

Five shifts for systemic governance

This policy brief sets out five priority shifts to move from fragmented approaches to more coherent and effective water governance:

• governing the full hydrological cycle, including both blue and green water
• putting water at the centre of climate policy and finance
• advancing cooperation across shared waters
• connecting water across global policy processes
• ensuring governance is inclusive, just, and equitable

Together, these shifts provide a practical framework for aligning how water systems function with how policy, finance, and implementation are organized.

Bringing the full water cycle into policy

A central contribution of the brief is its focus on green water—the moisture in soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere. While essential for regulating rainfall, sustaining ecosystems, and supporting food systems, it remains largely invisible in governance and investment decisions.

Recognizing and governing the full hydrological cycle is critical to strengthening resilience and avoiding fragmented or ineffective interventions.

A framework for action in 2026 and beyond

The brief is intended for national governments, development finance institutions, multilateral organizations, basin and regional bodies, and private sector actors engaged in climate and water-related investment.

As global attention turns to major water and climate processes in 2026, it offers a timely framework to strengthen coherence, align investments, and support implementation at scale.