Published for UNU-INWEH’s 30^th anniversary and ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, "Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era" argues that many river basins and aquifers can no longer return to their historical "normal," with droughts, shortages, and pollution shifting from temporary shocks to chronic conditions - what the report calls water bankruptcy.

Framing water as both a growing risk and a strategic opportunity, the report highlights how investing early in water can drive progress across climate, biodiversity, food, health, and cooperation, reducing shared risks and rebuilding trust before losses become irreversible.