Water covers more than two thirds of the planet, but readily accessible freshwater – which is found in rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers – accounts for less than one 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 freshwater ecosystems under pressure. Pollution, infrastructure development and resource extraction pose additional challenges.
