Water Atlas 2025
Water is the basis of life. It covers more than two-thirds of our planet and shapes ecosystems and cultures. Industrialisation, overexploitation, and population growth are driving water scarcity, water pollution and conflicts.
- Water is the BASIS OF LIFE. It covers more than two-thirds of our planet and shapes ecosystems and cultures.
- Industrialisation, overexploitation, and population growth are driving WATER SCARCITY, WATER POLLUTION, and CONFLICTS.
- The ENERGY SECTOR, AGRICULTURE, and INDUSTRY are the world’s largest WATER CONSUMERS, as they require vast amounts of water for cooling, irrigation, and production.
- Safe access to clean WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT. Yet around 2.2 billion people still lack access to adequate drinking water supply – and the most vulnerable members of society are particularly affected.
- The CLIMATE CRISIS leads to an increase in extreme weather events. DROUGHTS are threatening crops and water supplies – while floods endanger many towns and landscapes.
- Drained PEATLANDS must be rewetted and FLOODPLAINS restored. In addition to their vital role in supporting BIODIVERSITY and
maintaining the LANDSCAPE WATER BALANCE, they play a key role in CLIMATE PROTECTION. - Pollution from CHEMICALS, MICROPLASTICS, PESTICIDES, and FERTILISERS contaminates water bodies, putting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health at risk.
- Worldwide, many surface waters fail to achieve good ECOLOGICAL STATUS. In the European Union, for example, only around
40 percent have a good ecological status. - EXCESS NUTRIENTS threaten coastal regions worldwide, leading to OXYGEN-DEPLETED DEAD ZONES where many marine species cannot survive.
- WATER PROTECTION and the equitable and sufficient use of water can alleviate water stress and injustice. Environmentally
friendly materials and production processes can prevent harmful substances from entering water bodies in the first place. - To effectively address the challenges of the water and climate crises, we must DEMOCRATISE WATER GOVERNANCE.
Community-led water management offers an alternative to market-based models. - The history of privatisation shows that water is used more responsibly when kept in PUBLIC HANDS – rather than being handed over to corporations driven by profit interests. Especially as ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) and other technologies increase water demand.
