Mandhari

About water

Water covers more than two thirds of the planet, but readily accessible fresh water – found in rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers – accounts for less than 1 per cent of the world’s water supply.

As the global population grows, so too do the demands for water – for drinking, sanitation, farming and energy production, among many other uses. At the same time, human activity and climate change are disrupting natural water cycles, putting the source of our water, our freshwater ecosystems, under pressure. Pollution, infrastructure development and resource extraction pose additional challenges.

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People and partners

UNEP’s work in the area of fresh water spans across and connects the work of the entire organization, from its headquarters in Nairobi to its regional offices and collaborative centres worldwide. Guided by our Freshwater Strategic Priorities, our work is based on the core understanding that water bodies are disproportionately affected by, and central to combating, the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.

We engage with a number of partners such as the UNEP-DHI Collaborative Centre on Water and Environment, to support UN Member States. We collaborative with other UN agencies, including as part of UN-Water, which coordinates the UN’s work on water and sanitation. Our external partners include businesses, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.