International waters - factsheet

Water is the foundation of life on Earth. Over three billion people – some 40% of the world’s population – depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Meanwhile every person on Earth directly relies on freshwater to survive. But today, that foundation is under threat in view of climate change, pollution, overfishing , increasing competition for freshwater, and degraded waters. Currently, UN Environment and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are working together on more than 30 projects, assisting over 50 countries to battle environmental degradation, secure water resources and negotiate and implement the data-based policies needed to ensure a sustainable future for all.