Two-thirds of the world's population will face water shortages by 2025. The World Water Forum, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 16 to 22 March, gathers more than 25,000 experts to find sustainable solutions to the water challenges the world faces.
IUCN urges policy-makers at the forum to do more to protect the natural environment and make better use of the services nature offers for development and human security. Rivers and wetlands deliver vital services for people, such as clean drinking water, energy and healthy and sustainable livelihoods. Investing in good water governance is critical for a sustainable water future, both for countries themselves and the 260 river basins that cross borders.
