A perspective from the water science community

The document asserts that a green economy is impossible without efficient water stewardship, proposing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as the primary entry point for solving linked water, energy, and food security challenges. It emphasizes the need for new water targets, polycentric governance to manage transboundary water flows, and the use of earth observations for monitoring. The Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Project is cited as a model for linking hydrologic and nutrient cycles to provide renewable feedstock and ecosystem benefits.

• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is identified as a proven process for balancing economic, environmental, and societal needs, serving as a practical starting point for implementing a climate-resilient green economy.
• While the Millennium Development Goal for water access was met, the document argues for the establishment of new targets regarding water supply, quality, use, and climate resilience, supported by investments in monitoring and earth observations.
• Because water flows ignore political borders, the document advocates for polycentric governance models and collaborative water management as essential tools for transboundary peace-building and water-energy-food security.
• The Lake Winnipeg Bioeconomy Project serves as a demonstration of how innovative water management can integrate nutrient and hydrologic cycles to create renewable industrial feedstock and improve food security.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). A perspective from the water science community. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/role_of_water_green_eco_rio20.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. A perspective from the water science community. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/role_of_water_green_eco_rio20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=A perspective from the water science community |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/role_of_water_green_eco_rio20.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndperspective, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{A perspective from the water science community}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/role_of_water_green_eco_rio20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }