Water, Security and Conflict

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the relationship between water security and global security threats, including conflict, migration, and food insecurity. It identifies the drivers of water risk, classifies the pathways through which these risks manifest, and proposes a variety of multifaceted strategies to mitigate these threats.

• Water crises are not typically the sole cause of political instability or conflict, but rather act as contributing factors to these outcomes.
• The authors categorize water and security pathways into three primary categories: extreme flood events, increased water demand, and diminished water quality or supply.
• Water risk is determined by both natural hazards—such as floods and droughts—and the resilience and governance capacity of the affected community. Outcomes like migration and conflict are more probable when institutions are fragile, infrastructure is inadequate, and governance is weak.
• Current water security is being undermined by population growth, economic expansion, climate change (which affects water timing and increases drought/flood severity), and the pollution of groundwater and surface water via untreated wastewater and habitat destruction.
• Reducing water risk requires multifaceted strategies, including technical solutions like replacing water-inefficient irrigation (which represents 70 percent of global water withdrawals), investing in wastewater reuse and infrastructure (dams, dikes, levees), and policy-based solutions such as water demand caps, watershed agreements, and strengthening governance systems.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Water, Security and Conflict. https://www.wri.org/research/water-security-and-conflict

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Water, Security and Conflict. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/water-security-and-conflict.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Water, Security and Conflict |url=https://www.wri.org/research/water-security-and-conflict |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendwater, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Water, Security and Conflict}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/water-security-and-conflict}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }