Water is fundamental to all life on earth and underpins all human activity: food and energy production, physical health, life in cities, and social stability. Climate change and water are inextricably linked. Climate change is exacerbating both water scarcity and water-related hazards such as floods and extreme weather events. Rising global population growth, increasing prosperity, the industrialisation of agriculture, urbanisation and pollution of water sources are placing unsustainable demands and pressures on the world's clean freshwater resources.

Climate change increases the variability and unpredictability of water availability making it a risk multiplier for water security.

Nearly three-quarters of the global population currently live in countries that are classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure. Approximately 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least 1 month each year, and 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. A further 3.4 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation.

Water, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and water resource management (WRM), is a key development, foreign policy and security issue for Australia and our partners in the region.

Given Australia's world-leading expertise in water, we have been strong supporters in the WASH and WRM sectors for decades.

How we are helping

Australian support for the water sector encompasses WASH and WRM.

WASH refers to the provision of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services to communities, industry and public facilities. WRM refers to the management of water resources – this can be at large scale including water storages with dams and reservoirs,   river basin and groundwater management to ensure sustainable water for agriculture, people and ecosystems. The links between WRM and WASH are deepening as climate change presents risks to both sources of water and the infrastructure  for water and wastewater.

Australia is a trusted regional leader in both WASH and WRM. Through our development program we harness Australia's expertise and work in partnership with governments and communities in our region to achieve greater water security and better access to WASH services.

We work with partners to:

• Increase focus on incorporating climate resilience into WASH and WRM.
• Strengthen health security through hygiene promotion campaigns and increased access to WASH facilities in schools, health care facilities and communities.
• Improve regional stability through technical support for government health communication campaigns and sharing Australian water sector knowledge on business continuity.
• Support and safeguard economies and livelihoods through improved water security for agriculture and the private sector, including the millions who work in the water sector.
• Our approach is built around strong and enduring partnerships with partner governments, the private sector, NGOs and community organisations, multilaterals, regional organisations and other development agencies.
• In line with the International Development Policy, Australia will measure its performance on water against the relevant criteria including:
  • number of people using basic or safely managed drinking water services
  • number of people using basic or safely managed sanitation services and/or a handwashing facility with soap and water
  • number of people for whom Australia's investments have improved adaptation to climate change and resilience to disasters.

These performance indicators are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Australia advocates in regional and global forums for a comprehensive approach to water. Water intersects with every aspect of development and has its own Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for All.

How we contribute

Australia supports a range of water initiatives across its bilateral, regional and global programs. These are scaling up their efforts to respond to climate change with our partners across the Indo-Pacific.

Through the Australian Water Partnership, we mobilise Australian water expertise to assist partner countries across the Indo-Pacific region to improve water security, accessibility and climate resilience.

Our Mekong Australian Partnership Program helps strengthen Mekong resilience, development and integration including through activities to improve water security.

Australia's partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) focus on climate-resilient WASH and data monitoring of WASH outcomes.

Through our investments in water, we support individuals, communities and countries to reach their development goals and develop resilience in the face of climate change.

See further information on programs addressing water initiatives.