Progress on Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management – 2024 Update

Target 6.5 is: “By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.”

Indicator 6.5.1 tracks the degree of integrated water resources management (IWRM) implementation, by assessing the four key dimensions of IWRM: enabling environment, institutions and participation, management instruments and financing. Sustainable, integrated water resources management is vital for long-term social, economic and environmental well-being – the three pillars of the 2030 Agenda – and helps to balance competing water demands from across society and the economy.

This report presents the global status on IWRM and acceleration needs to achieve target 6.5 by 2030, based on the latest data on indicator 6.5.1.

Four key messages:

1. At the current rate, the world will not achieve sustainable water management until at least 2049 – 25 years from now. In 2030, at least 3.3 billion people are unlikely to have effective governance frameworks to balance competing water demands and cope with increasing pressures, including from climate change.
2. Insufficient finance constrains the implementation of integrated water resources management, limiting institutional capacity, monitoring networks, and the application of management instruments. More effective revenue raising for water management and infrastructure is needed in 85 per cent of countries.
3. Using IWRM approaches – cross-sector, participatory management at the basin scale – in climate change adaptation efforts, presents a great opportunity to build resilience to climate change impacts.
4. Political commitments at the global level for sustainable water management have never been higher, but they have not been matched by the required finance or action on the ground. Recognizing IWRM approaches as being relevant to achieving other development objectives, including energy and food security, is critical to accelerating progress on sustainable development.

Explore the latest data on 6.5.1, by country, region and for the whole world.

Full Report

Progress Report on Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management, English

Visual Summary

Visual Summary: Progress on Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management, English