Global Commission on the Economics of Water

The global #watercrisis is not merely a matter of scarcity — it's a challenge rooted in economics!   Find out why through a visually immersive narrative website showcasing GCEW's new #EconomicsOfWater report. Beginning with the disruption of the global hydrological cycle, the website features stunning interactive visuals that illustrate how human actions are intensifying water scarcity, food insecurity and social vulnerability across the globe. The report also presents a novel set of pathways for transformation that could change the way we think about sustainability and building resilience. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3ziFncU

Elevating the land-water nexus on the global agenda🌳💧 This Wednesday at the #UNCCD #COP16 in Riyadh, the Global Commission on the Economics of Water and UNDP co-hosted an insightful panel focused on the intrinsic linkages between governing the water cycle and land degradation. Sustainable land use is a precondition to a healthy hydrological cycle and yields green water benefits. Keeping moisture in soils - through agriculture practices or conservation of natural habitats - effectively increase resistance to drought. This rich conversation shed light on how the water cycle connects and flows through the core of the three #RioConventions and the esteemed panelists reflected on critical paths moving forward, looking towards the UN 2026 Water Conference. GCEW Commissioner Elizabeth Wathuti , O.G.W closed the session underscoring the importance of integrating an intergenerational approach to spur impactful and lasting change. #LandUse #GlobalCommonGood #UNDP #ClimateAction #WaterGovernance #YouthWaterAgenda #EconomicsOfWater

🌍 Justice is at the Heart of Water Governance The global water crisis isn’t just about scarcity — it’s about justice. The #GCEW backs the "Water System Justice" framework, a groundbreaking approach that redefines equity in water management by embedding justice into every facet of decision-making. 💡 Why justice matters: Justice is central to solving the water crisis because it ensures that decisions prioritize marginalized voices, respect diverse knowledge systems, and protect both current and future generations. By embedding equity into governance, we can bridge inequalities, safeguard ecosystems, and create water systems that work for everyone. Justice isn’t an add-on — it’s the foundation for sustainable and inclusive water solutions. 🌊 The vision: Justice isn’t an add-on — it’s the foundation of sustainable and inclusive water governance. By integrating these principles, we can reshape water systems to work for people, the planet, and prosperity. Dive deeper into how justice is transforming water governance in our full report: 👉 https://bit.ly/3ziFncU #WaterJustice #Sustainability #EconomicsOfWater #Equity #WaterGovernance

💧 The Hydrological Cycle: A System Under Pressure in the Anthropocene The hydrological cycle is beautiful yet complex — the continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff makes water essential to sustaining ecosystems, regulating climate, and supporting life. 🏙️ However, in the Anthropocene, human influence has significantly altered this cycle: Urbanization: Buildings and impervious surfaces disrupt natural infiltration, reducing groundwater recharge and increasing flood risks. Deforestation: Land use changes reduce evapotranspiration and destabilize rainfall patterns. Industrial Use: Overextraction and pollution impair the delicate balance of freshwater systems. Climate Change: Intensified droughts, storms, and glacial melt further stress the cycle. 🌍 The hydrological cycle is more than a natural phenomenon — it is the lifeblood of our planet. Addressing its disruptions requires cross-sectoral action to rethink urban design, water management, and climate resilience. Let’s reimagine our role in protecting the most vital resource of all. 👉 https://buff.ly/3IhhSCO #WaterCycle #Anthropocene #Sustainability #UrbanImpact #ClimateAction

💧 Water is the thread that weaves through all the SDGs. Backed by the #GCEW, the #EconomicsOfWater highlights water’s pivotal role in: 🌍 Regulating the climate system 🏘️ Supporting thriving communities and societies 📈 Driving economic development As the foundation for sustainable progress, addressing the global water crisis demands a cross-sectoral, economy-wide approach. Let’s rethink water as the cornerstone of global sustainability. Discover how water is embedded in virtually every Sustainable Development Goal in our latest report: 👉 https://buff.ly/3IhhSCO #SDGs #GlobalWaterCrisis #Sustainability #EconomicsOfWater

I am in #Riyadh today at the start of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16Riyadh and tomorrow the One Planet Summit #water The Global Commission on the Economics of Water is here to bring the understanding of the value of the watercycle as a global common good for the 3 Rio Conventions for UN Climate Change COP29 Azerbaijan, COP16 Colombia UN Biodiversity and UN Convention to Combat Desertification plus the Convention on Wetlands : the hydrological cycle is out of balance due to overabstraction, pollution and bad governance, exacerbated by climate change and biodiversity loss, and most importantly due to mismanagement of our lands, the critical source of our rain and freshwater. Half of the rain on land comes from evapotranspiration: the transpiration from soil, wetlands, vegetation and forests. Our weak financial economic models favor single focused short term profitable investments over longer term, mission oriented value creation. But that longer term under climate change threats starts today, no time to stick to stupid investments, we must change course now, and the water-cycle and its linkages across every SDG, climate & biodiversity and connecting every community, environment and economy across the world is our best solution space! And as already concluded by the IPCC with their landmark 2019 report on Climate Change & Land: land use, its just and sustainable management, inclusive governance and resilient conservation, is key for advancing communities and economies, restoring our resources and combating climate change and its adverse impacts. The water cycle and land, are two of a kind, for humankind. PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) Tharman Shanmugaratnam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Johan Rockström Mariana Mazzucato OECD - OCDE WaterAid Water.org Water Youth Network UN1FY High-Level Climate Champions Ambition Loop World Economic Forum The World Bank Group Inclusive Green Growth Department The Nature Conservancy IUCN United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) UNDP Dr Musonda Mumba Joachim Declerck Avaaz Dr. Florika Fink-Hooijer Jessika Roswall Veronica Manfredi European Commission Singapore International Foundation Institute for Environment and Sustainability - Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

🌍 The Decline of Terrestrial Water Storage: A Global Concern 💧 For over two decades, terrestrial water storage (TWS) on our planet has been in decline. The severe drought that hit Brazil in 2014 significantly impacted water resources not just in Brazil, but globally. It continues to be felt today. Recent research by Rodell et al. highlights this alarming trend and reinforces findings from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water: our global hydrological cycle is out of balance. Why Does This Matter? Human activities like deforestation, damming rivers, and poor water management are disrupting our water systems. The consequences are serious: - Crop Failures 🚜 - Water Supply Issues 💦 - Deteriorating Water Quality 🌊 - Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems 🐟 These challenges remind us that we urgently need better management of land and water resources. Mismanagement in one watershed can impact others! Let’s advocate for treating water as a common good and work together to restore balance to our hydrological cycle. 🌱💙 #water #watermanagement #sustainabledevelopment https://lnkd.in/gCqhetBK More on Global Commission on the Economics of Water: https://lnkd.in/gpGFaAji

Water💧! Justice and equity must be at the centre if we are to solve the global water crisis! Water is not only essential for adapting to climate change but also essential to mitigation. The Global Commission on the Economics of Water session at #COP29 moderated by Henk Ovink where together with Commissioners Dr. Naoko Ishii and Ma Jun, we explored the New Water Economics for Climate Action throughout Rio Conventions, Towards UN Water Conference 2026 - valuing the hydrological cycle as a global common good. Building on the Earth Commission’s Earth system justice framework (Gupta et al., 2023), our recently launched Report at the Commission explores what it means to restore the hydrological cycle and manage water sustainably for people today, for future generations, and for all living beings. Check it out.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 💧🌍 The recently released report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW), Valuing the Hydrological Cycle as a Global Common Good, calls for a critical shift in managing and governing water resources. As we face an escalating global water crisis, the findings of this report align closely with WOTR’s vision of sustainable water management and our commitment to community-led development. Key recommendations from the GCEW report highlight the need to acknowledge its scarcity and multiple benefits, shaping markets for water efficiency, equity, and sustainability and empowering communities to take charge of their water resources. At Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), our Water Stewardship Initiative (WSI) focuses on these very principles. Through our work, we enable rural communities to become active participants in water governance, promoting inclusive decision-making and shared responsibility. By building ownership and fostering collective action, communities are equipped to restore balance to the hydrological cycle, ensuring that water resources are managed sustainably for both people and nature. The GCEW report stresses the importance of data-driven action, aligning with WOTR’s focus on systematic water resource management to inform decision-making. Additionally, the report’s five mission areas, especially in agricultural water management and ecosystem conservation, align with WOTR’s WSI, which improves water productivity, promotes regenerative farming, and conserves habitats to reduce water use and boost crop yields. However, the implementation of these ideas on a global scale presents challenges. Transboundary water management, financing for infrastructure, and balancing competing demands require concerted, multi-stakeholder efforts. At WOTR, we believe that integrating these global recommendations with grassroots approaches can build a more resilient and equitable water future. It’s time to value water as the global common good it is—through collaborative action and shared responsibility. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dgt2B2VY 👇👇👇 When you engage with our posts, you're not just showing support - you're amplifying our voice! 📢 Every like, share, and comment helps our message reach more people who care, helping us tackle rural poverty at its very core 🌳 👍 Like if you support our cause, 💬 Comment to share your thoughts, ➜ Share to spread the word! #WOTRat30 #WOTR4Development #WaterStewardship #ClimateAction #WaterGovernance #Sustainability #CommunityLeadership #GlobalWaterCrisis

SHF welcomes the #OneWaterSummit organized by France, Kazakhstan and the World Bank that brings much needed political momentum to the #water and #sanitation sectors as central to the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs) and #climatechange. The One Water Summit will incubate concrete solutions and projects, stimulating partnerships between States, local authorities, development and private banks, businesses, philanthropies, scientific experts and civil society, in line with previous One Planet Summits. We are delighted to announce that our Board Chair Cecilia Akintomide will moderate the session on 'Access to water for achieving all the SDGs', highlighting the relevance of sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health in the water agenda, and its relevance to climate. This is a unique opportunity to showcase the financial innovations we are bringing forward to catalyze investment into #NextGenerationSanitation and Capital M for menstrual health. Together, we can make this Summit a turning point in our efforts to ensure universal and sustainable access to water, #sanitation, #hygiene, and #menstrualhealth. Watch the livestream here: https://lnkd.in/e-WaxNVB One Planet Summit Présidence de la République The World Bank Barbara Pompili Zulfiya Suleimenova Global Commission on the Economics of Water Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation