Water overview

Freshwater resources are under increasing pressure worldwide as a result of growing freshwater demand for human use and climate change. Current pressures and climate impacts are pushing freshwater systems to their productive limits and, in many cases, beyond.

Freshwater availability is compromised by inadequate storage, wetland degradation, over‑extraction from surface and groundwater systems, salinization and pollution. Water scarcity and climate variability are constraining agricultural production in many regions and increasing risks and uncertainties for food security and livelihoods.

Socioeconomic drivers of pressure on water resources are also intensifying globally, as population growth, urbanization and economic development increase demand for water across agriculture, energy, industry and domestic uses.

Climate change, due to global warming, results in higher evaporation rates and prolonged droughts. These conditions reduce soil moisture and water availability for crops, thereby increasing the need for irrigation to maintain agricultural productivity.

These combined pressures place water at the centre of efforts to ensure food security, sustain livelihoods and protect ecosystems. Addressing water challenges is therefore essential to strengthening resilience, enabling adaptation and supporting sustainable development pathways. FAO’s work on water contributes to the transformation of agrifood systems by strengthening governance, supporting sustainable water management practices, enhancing adaptation and resilience to climate change, promoting integrated solutions that address interactions between water and other sectors, and improving access to data and information for informed decision‑making.

Responding effectively requires major changes in how water resources are governed, managed and monitored. FAO’s approach to water is set out within its broader FAO Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management. Within this framework, FAO’s vision is to support the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of water resources to ensure future food and water security and the continued provision of ecosystem services.

Through this integrated approach, FAO supports Members in advancing more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Water remains a central pillar in addressing food security, climate resilience and ecosystem sustainability, with FAO’s work aiming to ensure that water resources continue to support livelihoods and development in an increasingly water‑constrained world.