Water, the world's most precious yet undervalued resource, lies at the heart of a mounting global crisis that threatens both human and planetary health, warns a new report, published by WWF.

The High Cost of Cheap Water uncovers a stark reality: the annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems is estimated to be US$58 trillion – equivalent to 60% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP)*. But the world’s freshwater ecosystems are in a downward spiral, posing an ever growing risk to these values. 

Despite generating an estimated 7 times more value than direct use activities, the indirect benefits of freshwater are chronically undervalued. These ecosystem benefits – the natural processes that rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers provide to support human well-being – range from water purification and sediment delivery to biodiversity conservation, and the protection of communities from severe droughts and catastrophic flooding. 

The degradation of rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater aquifers is putting this value at risk and threatening climate resilience in the 21st century. We need to invest in nature by creating the right governance, stewardship, financing, and partnership structures to protect, restore and sustainably manage the world’s rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers – and pave the way for a net-zero, nature-positive, equitable and resilient future.