The world has mismanaged its freshwater reserves for decades, hampering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   

Some 50 per cent of countries globally have one or more types of freshwater-related ecosystems – rivers, lakes, wetlands or aquifers – in a state of degradation, finds a recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). To count as degraded, water bodies have to be polluted or have low water levels. Restoring and protecting freshwater ecosystems is a key component of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a planet-wide agreement to halt and reverse nature loss. The framework contains 23 targets designed to safeguard the natural world and that come due in 2030. 

“Rivers are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet,” said Sinikinesh Beyene Jimma, interim Head of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch. “Given the importance of rivers and other freshwater ecosystems for food security, resilience building and the world’s biodiversity, their sustainable use and management is critical to ensure essential ecosystem services continue and meet the commitments of the Global Biodiversity Framework.” 

As representatives from 196 countries discuss the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework this week at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, there is growing recognition of the value of fresh water and the need to account for it in both national and local policy and financial decisions.  

Here are five ways countries can leverage freshwater to meet their global biodiversity and sustainability goals.  

Read the full story on UNEP’s website.