PB: Freshwater use
Source: Steffen et al (2015)
Environmental Water Flows (EWF) = 33% of Mean Annual Flow (Global Average)
Accessible blue water resources: ~12 500–15 000 km3 year-1
Governance scales and PBs
• Natural tendency to imagine global-scale governance
• But freshwater is clearly a problem that manifests at multiple scales
• Governance of freshwater is generally not at the global level
IPCC AR5
Freshwater-related risks of climate change increase significantly with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. The fraction of global population experiencing water scarcity and the fraction affected by major river floods increase with the level of warming in the 21st century
IPCC AR5
Climate change over the 21st century is projected to reduce renewable surface water and groundwater resources significantly in most dry subtropical regions, intensifying competition for water among sectors
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1 Universal and equitable access
6.2 Access to sanitation
6.3 Improve water quality
6.4 Increase water-use efficiency
6.5 Implement IWRM
6.6 Protect and restore water-related ecosystems