Water security is key to our collective future, yet many parts of the world today are deeply water-insecure. Progress on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 must accelerate with a sense of great urgency, given the pressing need for improved water and sanitation access in communities across the globe.
Climate security is also deeply intertwined with water security. As we enter in a new era of water risks, governments, businesses, and water users across sectors — as well as the global water science community — are not doing nearly enough to adapt and build water security for the 21st century. Fragmentation of water science and data, and poor water governance remain deeply problematic. Current water management methods, as well as underfunded water services and infrastructure, are often proving relatively inflexible in the face of intensifying climate change. Meanwhile, youth voices are too often excluded from important conversations about how to most effectively bridge the gap between science and water policymaking.
Without immediate and bold action, water security is set to worsen.
To strengthen the response to these pressing challenges, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is promoting the Transformative Futures for Water Security initiative. Over the past year, and through a unique process that included eight virtual regional dialogues and a global conference held this February in Cape Town, the initiative convened representatives from the private sector, water user and advocacy groups, research institutes, political entities, and youth networks to identify critical gaps and opportunities in water research, policy and action.
Transformative Futures for Water Security initiative (TFWS) website
Water Alternatives Forum: What will it take to decolonize water science, policy, and practice?
There is now, perhaps as never before, a growing consensus on the need for transformative change in water and climate science.
Eight ambitious missions to transform the future of water security
Recognizing the need for youth to be included in this conversation, young people have been made co-guardians of the TFWS process
Transforming the future of water at ground-breaking conference
The Transformative Futures for Water Security (TFWS) initiative is raising the ambition for water and bridging the gaps between science, policy and action.
Youth are at the center of transforming the future of water – hear what they have to say
It is essential that young people working in water and science are ‘co-guardians’ of the Transformative Futures for Water Security initiative.