Blog Posts: water security

As the world faces both a climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, governments must invest in a climate-resilient recovery to protect people from future disasters and stimulate the economy.

In this third episode of our relaunched series of WRI “Big Ideas Into Action” podcasts, we’re looking at how we can solve water-related conflicts.

Forests everywhere alter the movement, quality and availability of water. The world’s urban leaders need to account for the role of forests in securing clean water for residents and the agricultural lands that cities rely on.

New research from WRI evaluates the experiences of five counties in Kenya that are mainstreaming adaptation and offers three key lessons for practitioners struggling to implement resilient, sustainable development at the local level.

Water-related conflict and political instability are on the rise across the globe. While no single solution will eliminate water insecurity, a wide variety of solutions are available.

In addition to the current health crisis, Colombia is facing simultaneous water and energy crises. Nature-based solutions that utilize forests can be a key part of creating sustainable water and energy systems in the long term.

Frequent hand-washing is supposed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. But what should governments do when water scarcity impacts their communities?

New WRI research shows how countries can achieve water security for all by 2030. The economic benefits of investing in sustainable water management far outweigh the costs.

Nearly half the population in 15 major cities in the global south lacks access to public piped water systems, with access lowest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. For these households without public piped water, water from other sources is either too expensive or unsafe.

Deforestation rates in the Congo Basin — historically lower than in the Amazon and southeast Asia — are on the rise. It's not just a problem for the 80 million people who rely on the forests for food and livelihoods; research shows the world's second-largest rainforest regulates weather patterns across Africa.