Water for nature and people: Time for the world to act

The document highlights the critical state of global freshwater ecosystems, noting that one in three freshwater species face extinction and only one-third of long rivers remain free-flowing. It identifies unsustainable agriculture and poorly planned infrastructure as primary drivers of degradation, both exacerbated by climate change. The author calls for the Global Biodiversity Framework to include specific numerical restoration targets by 2030: 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of inland waters. It further advocates for the elevation of freshwater to the same priority level as land and sea in conservation goals, urging the use of nature-based solutions and financial support to ensure water security and support the clean energy transition.

• Freshwater ecosystems are in severe decline, with one-third of the world's long rivers no longer free-flowing and one in three freshwater species facing extinction.
• The primary drivers of freshwater degradation are unsustainable agricultural water use—leading to pollution and overextraction—and poorly planned infrastructure that disrupts ecosystem connectivity, with climate change exacerbating these issues.
• WWF proposes specific numerical restoration targets for the Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030, including at least 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of inland waters, alongside a goal to conserve 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas.
• Climate change increases the risk of biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems, which are currently declining faster than any other biome, and 90% of natural disasters are water-related.
• Achieving resilient freshwater systems requires expanding sustainable energy, regenerative agriculture, and water stewardship, while leveraging financial support for nature-based solutions.

APA

Ho, M. (2022). Water for nature and people: Time for the world to act. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/water-for-nature-and-people-time-for-the-world-to-act/

Chicago

Ho, Melissa. Water for nature and people: Time for the world to act. WWF International, 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/water-for-nature-and-people-time-for-the-world-to-act/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Ho |first1=Melissa |title=Water for nature and people: Time for the world to act |publisher=WWF International |date=5 December 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/water-for-nature-and-people-time-for-the-world-to-act/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ho2022water, author = {Ho, Melissa}, title = {{Water for nature and people: Time for the world to act}}, publisher = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/water-for-nature-and-people-time-for-the-world-to-act/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }