Water must be at the core of effective climate action, but many countries are unaware of the powerful water-related solutions that exist. To remedy this, the global water community will be speaking with one voice at the upcoming UNFCCC COP 26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and host a joint Water Pavilion.
When seen from space, our planet is predominantly blue, seemingly abundant with water, the only such planet in our galaxy. Yet only 1% of its surface area is actually freshwater.
'Natural Water Infrastructure' refers to services nature provides for free, such as mangroves protecting shorelines from storms, peatlands sequestering carbon, wetlands filtering contaminated water, lakes storing large water supplies, and floodplains absorbing excess water runoff. These natural water services perform an infrastructure-like function and are part of what is termed 'Nature-based Solutions'.
A new Shorthand explains how The BRIDGE programme works towards building river dialogue and governance in transboundary river basins. Implemented by IUCN and regional partners, BRIDGE works at the interface of hydrodiplomacy and local governance to promote new approaches in transboundary water management.
This Shorthand This feature is part of a series of three on 'Future of Dams':
Part 1: Viable Options or Stranded Assets?
Part 2: Smart Dams - Smart Financing
Part 3: Energy Options, Determining our Freshwater Future
This Shorthand gives an insight into the 21st Century urban challenge, the work implemented by the IUCN GrowGreen project, and includes interviews with GrowGreen conference participants on implementing Nature-Based Solutions in European cities.
A new visual story feature Fostering water, energy and food security in Central Asia explains what the Water-Energy-Food Nexus project is and how it is relevant to the Central Asian region.
IUCN, through BRIDGE, supports Ecuador and Peru in setting up a IWRM Binational Commission between the two countries. Watch this video and find out more about the Commission and how we are supporting it.
The value of water is not about economic price or financial worth. Instead, the theme aims to raise awareness about the myriad of connections we have with water, be it for social and economic use but also for our natural systems and cultural values. Not valuing something can lead to mismanagement, poor investment, externalities, and ultimately loss and failure.