Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute and UNEP argues that traditional measures of 'water productivity' are too narrow because they often focus solely on agricultural output (e.g., 'crop per drop') while ignoring the essential role of landscape ecosystem services. The document advocates for an integrated water resource management (IWRM) approach that balances agricultural needs with the maintenance of natural water storage and ecosystem functions to ensure long-term sustainability and human well-being.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has introduced the Water Beyond Boundaries (WBB) initiative to address gaps in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). WBB seeks to create a new agenda for sustainable water planning by focusing on tele-connections beyond the watershed, early integration of ecosystem needs, and multi-scale participatory approaches to address social inequalities.