Global Commission on the Economics of Water

We're pleased to announce that the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) will serve as the host institution for the GCEW Secretariat—driving coordination, administration, communications, and global outreach—as we disseminate the findings of our #EconomicsOfWater report and work with coalitions around the world to implement its recommendations 🤝🌏💧 The Global Commission will maintain its independent status while leveraging IWMI’s research and international presence, partnerships, and innovation capabilities. The Secretariat is now operational at IWMI’s global headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Looking forward to moderating a panel with Henk Ovink and Prof Dan Esty on the landmark report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water on April 9th! If you are in New Haven, join us at Yale School of the Environment at this public event as YSE celebrates 125 Years of Leadership, Innovation, and Impact! Register here: https://lnkd.in/dACvBVCx

🌏Meet these experts in person at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Water and Urban Development Forum (AWUF) 2025! 👥  From global water professionals and urban planning experts to top policymakers, AWUF 2025 brings together an extraordinary lineup of speakers to share insights, innovations, and real-world solutions.  200+ experts | 60+ countries | 4 days of action 📅 27-30 May 2025 📍ADB HQ, Manila 🔗Visit the #AWUF2025 website for more details: https://lnkd.in/gsC8apDu    Henk Ovink | Taikan OKI | Maria Buhigas San José | Kotchakorn Voraakhom | Antoinette Taus | Rasmus Duong-Grunnet | David Dodman | Nimesh Modak | F. Cleo Kawawaki | Norio Saito | Neeta Pokhrel | Satoshi Ishii | Jingmin Huang | Srinivas Sampath | Mtchera Johannes Chirwa | Saroj Kumar Jha | Josses Mugabi | Dr David Tyler | Dražen Kučan | Michael John Webster | He Tian | DJ Pandian | Changhua Wu | Tze Chin Ong | Kala Vairavamoorthy | Gretchen Kalonji | Kenzo Hiroki

☔ 🌍🚰 It’s easy to take water for granted — until there’s too much or too little of it. Yet in the way we govern our economies, water is overlooked, undervalued, and mismanaged. We can continue treating water as an afterthought and responding to crises as they emerge, or we can recognize it for what it truly is: the foundation of economic security and prosperity. Water and its intrinsic worth must be recognized across all major environmental conventions, from climate and biodiversity to wetlands and desertification, and backed by clear and measurable goals. Learn more in this thought-provoking opinion piece on Nature Water by Dr Musonda Mumba, Henk Ovink, and Johan Rockström 👉 https://buff.ly/qIEk8Qm #EconomicsOfWater #WaterAction #GlobalGoals

"I think the opportunity of UpLink - World Economic Forum is that that enabling environment is immediately impacting society (and) that those innovators are not left alone. One they are in a safe environment to be able to go all out. Second, they're connected to the ones that really want to co-invest, but also discuss with them those innovations to become better,” highlights our Executive Director Henk Ovink 👇 #EconomicsOfWater #WaterAction

💧💰 Water is not just another resource — it is the silent currency underwriting every purchase, investment, or trade we make, from the farmer’s market to the stock market. It shapes food production, ensures energy security, and reinforces global stability. Without reliable freshwater flows, ecosystems collapse and undermine carbon sequestration and food security. In fact, 25% of CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel burning are absorbed by nature on land, a process directly dependent on stable freshwater cycles. But today, decisions about water remain disconnected and uncoordinated. The Global Commission called for a major shift in global governance that positions water as an organizing principle. This means incorporating all of water’s essential functions — not just its market price — into every level of economic planning, from investment and trade policies to international agreements. Effective leadership requires transparency, fairness, and the capacity to address water challenges head-on. Read the full opinion piece on Nature Water by Dr Musonda Mumba, Henk Ovink, and Johan Rockström 👉 https://buff.ly/qIEk8Qm #EconomicsOfWater #WaterAction #GlobalGoals

Water is the lifeblood of our economies, yet we’re destabilizing its supply. It's mispriced & mismanaged. By 2050, changes in rainfall & access could cut GDP by up to 15% in low-income countries and 8% in high-income countries. Time to rethink water economics. Water’s true value must be recognized across all major global frameworks, from climate and biodiversity to wetlands and desertification, and backed by measurable targets. New Nature Water commentary, out now. https://lnkd.in/eDsMpfbJ

It’s easy to take water for granted — until there’s too much or too little of it. This opinion piece on Nature Water by Dr Musonda Mumba, Henk Ovink, and Johan Rockström highlights a critical truth: water is the foundation of economic security, yet it remains undervalued and mismanaged. Water is the silent currency that keeps the global economy flowing 👉 https://buff.ly/im98sic #EconomicsOfWater #WorldWaterDay #WetlandsMatter

The precarious state of water has impacts on our climate, society, and the economy. “8-15% GDP losses across the world in the next decade. That’s a massive number. And with that, undermining food security for all. This is not a Global South problem,” highlights our Executive Director Henk Ovink 👇 #WorldWaterDay #EconomicsOfWater #WaterAction

💧The water crisis requires a new economics of water. Last week, IIPP Director Mariana Mazzucato moderated a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministerial Roundtable on rethinking water security, building on the work of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water on valuing the hydrological cycle as a global common good and transforming water governance. The roundtable was followed by a reception with HRH King Charles III hosted by WaterAid. 🔗 Read the full 'Economics of Water' report: https://lnkd.in/eadW_a2i ✍️ Read the outcome statement of the roundtable here: https://lnkd.in/ezrEzS3p