Enhancing Water Quality and Access for Communities Worldwide

 

/ The UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration /

/ April 22, 2025 /

Global communities face unprecedented threats in the 21st century from climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation. These issues have led to a global water crisis affecting billions of people across the world, with those in already ecologically vulnerable communities most at risk.

In response to this and many other environmental issues, the United Nations launched the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), an initiative that centers healthy ecosystems as essential to addressing multiple sustainable development goals.

This UN initiative aims to halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean, recognizing that healthy ecosystems are essential for many things, including climate recovery, biodiversity conservation, and water quality and access – the focus of many of our partners in the DMV and beyond.

Water quality and access issues are some of the most critical of our time, with 2.2 billion people lacking safely managed drinking water and 4.2 billion people lacking safely managed sanitation.  At the heart of these challenges is ecosystem degradation, healthy ecosystems lead to thriving environments that naturally filter water and protect against floods and droughts. When ecosystems deteriorate, it directly affects water quality and availability for all.

The path to clean water for all runs directly through ecosystem restoration, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is the perfect time to act. Learn more about our incredible partners’ work to improve water quality and access through ecosystem restoration: