Global groundwater sustainability: A call to action

Groundwater is the drinking water source for more than two billion people in the world, and provides over 40% of water for irrigated agriculture. Yet in many parts of the world groundwater has become depleted or polluted, risking ecosystems, water and food systems.

Following the AGU Chapman Conference in Spain this year, a global group of scientists and practitioners are calling for action to ensure groundwater continues to benefit society into the future. You can read more and sign the statement at groundwaterstatement.org.

The call to action comprises three parts:

Action item 1: “Put the spotlight on global groundwater sustainability by completing a UN World Water Development Report on the state, trends, and prospects of global groundwater sustainability for the 2022 UN world water day dedicated to groundwater and recognizing the global importance of groundwater to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Action item 2: “Manage and govern groundwater sustainably from local to global scales by applying sustainability guiding principles by 2030.”

Action item 3: “Invest in groundwater governance and management by implementing groundwater sustainability plans for stressed aquifers by 2030.”

Content taken from groundwaterstatement.org.