Water

Mapping, measuring, and mitigating global water challenges.

PODCAST: Water Stress Is a Threat We Can't Ignore

In this episode of the WRI Podcast, Charles Iceland, director, Global and National Water Initiatives with WRI's Food, Forests, and Water Programs, explains what water stress is, how we measure it, and why it matters for understanding geopolitics today.

The world runs on water. Clean, reliable water supplies are vital for industry, agriculture, and energy production. Every community and ecosystem on Earth depends on water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily survival.

Yet the world’s water systems face formidable threats. More than a billion people currently live in water-scarce regions, and as many as 3.5 billion could experience water scarcity by 2025. Increasing pollution degrades freshwater and coastal aquatic ecosystems. And climate change is poised to shift precipitation patterns and speed glacial melt, altering water supplies and intensifying floods and drought.

WRI works with businesses, governments, and civil society to ensure a water-secure future. We seek to address both water quantity and quality challenges.

Our Aqueduct project uses the most up-to-date data to produce global water risk maps, allowing stakeholders to assess current and future challenges. We conduct economic and other analyses to identify the most cost-effective strategies to reduce water pollution. And we identify solutions—such as restoring ecosystem services—to alleviate stresses on the world’s water supplies.

Top Water Outcomes

What's a top outcome?

Top outcomes are WRI's biggest success stories. They occur when our analysis, solutions, or partnerships result in significant change in the world.

Featured Expert

Betsy Otto

Global Director, Water

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September 12, 2018 News

RELEASE: 45 Cities Pledge to Conserve and Restore Forests, Citing Public Health, Water and Climate Benefits

Today at the Global Climate Action Summit, 45 cities across six continents joined the Cities4Forests initiative, committing to conserve and restore their forests while making residents more aware of the vast benefits of trees.
September 12, 2018 Blog post

45 Cities Pursue a New Urban Strategy: Protecting Forests Near and Far

Most people don’t associate cities with trees, but urban areas are actually dependent on healthy forests. A new initiative helps cities protect trees—both those within city boundaries and others hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
August 27, 2018 Publication

Water, Security and Conflict

This paper reviews the key drivers behind growing water risk, describes and illustrates water and security pathways, and presents approaches for reducing water related risks to global security.
August 27, 2018 Blog post

Water Is a Source of Growing Tension and Violence in the Middle East

From the foothills of the Taurus Mountains in Turkey to the desert wadis on the southern tip of Yemen, the history of water conflicts provides a cautionary tale: When water and politics mix, freshwater can become both a weapon and a threat to national security.
June 21, 2018 Event

WRI Events at World Water Week 2018: Water, Ecosystems and Human Development

World Water Week is a unique opportunity for individuals around the world— from experts and decision-makers to young professionals—to discuss the world's most pressing water issues and identify promising solutions. Take a look at WRI's scheduled events.
June 06, 2018 Blog post

PODCAST: Water Stress Is a Threat We Can't Ignore

In this episode of the WRI Podcast, Charles Iceland, director, Global and National Water Initiatives with WRI's Food, Forests, and Water Programs, explains what water stress is, how we measure it, and why it matters for understanding geopolitics today.