FRESHWATER SUPPORTING LIFE ON OUR PLANET BY ENSURING HEALTHY, RESILIENT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS

Freshwater systems are under severe pressure from climate change, pollution, and unsustainable use, with global demand expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030. WWF is implementing a strategy focused on connected rivers, transboundary governance, and corporate water stewardship to restore biodiversity and ensure equitable water access.

• Freshwater ecosystems are in critical decline, with one in three species facing extinction and 87% of wetland habitats lost since 1700. Since 1970, there has been an 84% decline in freshwater species populations.
• Global water security is facing a severe crisis, with projections indicating that almost half of the world's population will live in areas of high water stress by 2030, and total demand is expected to exceed supply by 40% by that same year.
• Human activity and infrastructure significantly impact freshwater systems: agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater use, and 63% of the world's longest rivers are obstructed by dams or other infrastructure.
• Governance of shared water resources is lacking, as approximately two-thirds of the world's transboundary rivers operate without a cooperative management framework.
• WWF's strategy to address these threats includes promoting nature-based solutions, influencing financial flows, and implementing corporate water stewardship to align textile, food, and beverage supply chains with basin conservation goals.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). FRESHWATER SUPPORTING LIFE ON OUR PLANET BY ENSURING HEALTHY, RESILIENT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/551/7h59qthco9_WWF_Freshwater_Factsheet_Sep23.1.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. FRESHWATER SUPPORTING LIFE ON OUR PLANET BY ENSURING HEALTHY, RESILIENT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/551/7h59qthco9_WWF_Freshwater_Factsheet_Sep23.1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=FRESHWATER SUPPORTING LIFE ON OUR PLANET BY ENSURING HEALTHY, RESILIENT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/551/7h59qthco9_WWF_Freshwater_Factsheet_Sep23.1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndfreshwater, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{FRESHWATER SUPPORTING LIFE ON OUR PLANET BY ENSURING HEALTHY, RESILIENT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/551/7h59qthco9_WWF_Freshwater_Factsheet_Sep23.1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }