Global Water Initiative
This project is part of the World Economic Forum ’ s Shaping the Future of Environment and Natural Resource Security System Initiative
Water is the ultimate systems challenge . It is a unique resource that underpins all drivers of growth – be it agricultural production , energy generation , industry or manufacturing . It also connects these sectors into a broader economic system that must balance social development and environmental interests . A decision to allocate more water to any one sector implies that less water will be available for other economic uses , public water supply and other social services , or environmental protection .
Despite its fundamental role across the economy , water is all too often managed in a fragmented manner , leaving national and regional growth strategies disconnected from insights into available and planned water resources . This results in competition across users , mismanaged trade-offs , disruptions to operations , and under-investment for critical infrastructure .
The Global Water Initiative , as one of the core projects of the System Initiative on Environment and Natural Resource Security , seeks to embed water at the center of economic growth planning . Building on its experience growing large-scale public-private coalitions in the water agenda , the Global Water Initiative is now working with key champions to identify and scale up a new generation of 4IR enabled solutions that can help accelerate implementation of SDG 6 , the dedicated goal on water and sanitation . In doing so , it will optimize allocative decision making and enable a more equitable and water-secure environment for users — one that is more conducive in attracting investment and job creation , supporting social stability and preserving the environment .
We should look to nature for solutions to the global water crisis . Here ’ s why
New York City faced a challenge in the 1990s : the city needed a new water filtration system to serve its nearly 8 million people . But the prospect of spending $ 6-10 billion on a new water treatment plant , and another $ 100 million on annual operating costs , was daunting . So city officials took a closer look at the source of their water : the Catskill Mountains .
Water from the Catskills flows through 120 miles of forests , farmlands and towns to reach New York City . When that landscape is healthy , it acts as a natural purifying system , but certain development and agricultural practices can result in impaired water quality . For city officials , reaching out to local farmers and landowners and compensating them to restore and conserve their lands in the watershed , combined with some land acquisition , proved to be significantly cheaper than building and operating a new treatment plant .
New York ’ s example showed the benefits of public-private partnerships in such situations , and demonstrated that unlocking nature-based solutions can be cheaper and more efficient and produce additional benefits compared to conventional built , “ grey ” infrastructure . This was the moment of inspiration for water funds . Water funds are a collective investment vehicle in which stakeholders collaborate to implement nature-based source water protection .
Downstream water users invest in upstream land and water management practices , compensating upstream land managers for restoration activities and better management of agricultural land . Rural landowners and communities can benefit economically from these investments as well . Mutual benefits are the hallmark of successful water funds .
Given that more than 40 % of source watersheds worldwide have been degraded by development , resulting in impaired downstream flows , naturebased source water protection can be one of
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