Basins of the Future

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Over 1.4 billion people currently live in river basins where the use of water exceeds minimum recharge levels, leading to the desiccation of rivers and depletion of groundwater. Increasing water scarcity and climate change impacts, coupled with rising demand and competition between multiple users such as cities, industry, agriculture and the environment, are putting unprecedented pressure on river basins worldwide.

To address these challenges requires the sustainable management of water to optimize the use of water resources; addressing climate risks to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience; and actions at the catchment level to protect water sources, increase water efficiency and improve water allocation.

The IWA’s Basins of the Future agenda promotes the connection between urban stakeholders and their basins. Building on the IWA Principles for Water Wise Cities, the IWA Action Agenda for Basin-Connected Cities  aims to guide cities, industries and their basins in the sustainable planning and management of water resources across scales, from catchment to consumer, meeting growing demands and responding to the challenges of climate variability and change. This is through building partnerships across scales; demonstrating and promoting approaches that work; through international frameworks and agenda-setting guidelines; and through advocacy for improved regulation, policy and financing.

Endorsers of the Principles are encouraged to uptake and apply the Action Agenda to enable them to be better water stewards in their catchments on which they rely for water resources.

 

Related IWA Specialist Groups

Basins and Water Resources
Industrial Water and Wastewater

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Governance, Regulation and Utility Management

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Programmes and Communities
Daniela Bemfica
Strategic Programmes & Engagement Director

Initiatives

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News / Events

April 5, 2023
IWA Specialist Groups cover a wide range of subjects and are one of the main mechanisms for like-minded IWA members to network and share knowledge. They form ...
September 13, 2022
IWA is pleased to share its latest publication: Handbook on Basin Connected Cities: Why and How Urban Stakeholders can be Active Water Stewards in their Basins,...
August 16, 2022
Official Launch: Tuesday 13 September, 12:45 | IWA Stand, World Water Congress & Exhibition, Copenhagen Many of the global challenges such as urbanisation, ...
12 Sep - 12 Sep 2022 Denmark/Copenhagen
12 Sep 2022 12:00:00 12 Sep 2022 18:00:00 Europe/London Policy to Practice Dialogue for Nature-based Solutions Workshop IWA Event Copenhagen - Denmark International Water Association contact@iwa.net
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