Topics

Agriculture depends on water and underpins food security and rural livelihoods. Sustainable practices for green water and landscape management, support productivity, ecosystems, and climate resilience.

Climate resilience depends on water management as climate change intensifies floods, droughts, and variability, shaping how societies and ecosystems cope with risk.

Gender inequality in water governance limits participation and weakens solutions, despite women’s central role in water management and community resilience.

Green water is the moisture stored in soils and vegetation and released into the atmosphere as evaporation and rainfall. Governing forests and landscapes is essential to manage these flows and sustain climate, ecosystems, and agriculture.

Groundwater is a critical yet often overlooked water source. Strengthened governance and monitoring of aquifers are essential for resilience, drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Human rights-based approaches promote equitable access to water and inclusive governance. Principles such as participation, accountability, and non-discrimination are central to sustainable water management.

Indigenous Peoples hold deep knowledge of water, landscapes, and ecosystems. Supporting Indigenous rights and leadership ensures policies reflect this knowledge and strengthen resilience and justice.

Industry and business play a key role in water stewardship. Managing water risks, reducing pollution, and aligning economic activity with responsible water use are essential.

Integrated management of land, water, and ecosystems supports biodiversity, livelihoods, and water flows. Healthy landscapes are essential for climate adaptation and mitigation, and long-term resilience.

Nature-based solutions use ecosystems to manage water risks, improve resilience, and support biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate adaptation.

Rivers, wetlands, and basins form the backbone of freshwater systems. Their protection and sustainable management are essential for ecological health and water security.

Shared waters link regions and sectors, making cooperation across local, national, and basin levels essential for water security, development, and ecosystem health.

Water security underpins health, livelihoods, and economic stability, with risks spreading across food, energy, and society when water is scarce or polluted.

Water diplomacy fosters cooperation over shared freshwater across sectors and borders, supporting conflict prevention and sustainable peace.

Policies, institutions and social values shape how water is managed across sectors and scales. Effective governance underpins equitable, impartial, and sustainable water decisions.

Young people are essential actors in addressing global water challenges. Meaningful youth participation strengthens water governance and climate action at all levels.