This press release was initially published by WWF.
Climate change will also increase the pressure on freshwater species populations, which have already crashed by 83 per cent on average since 1970.
But the report shows how a collective commitment to better management of our freshwater resources, particularly by relying on nature-based solutions, can drive global efforts to tackle the most serious climate risks.
“Everyone knows that climate change will primarily impact our communities, cities and companies through water, yet safeguarding the health of the world’s rivers and wetlands – our freshwater life support systems – remains way down the list of global priorities,” said Stuart Orr, WWF Freshwater Practice Leader.
“We’re already seeing extreme droughts from Chile to Chennai and historic floods from the US Mid-west to Mozambique and worse is on the way. But we can become more resilient to climate impacts if governments and businesses urgently pursue water policies, practices and investments that recognize the full value of healthy freshwater systems,” added Orr…”