7 July 2026 - Businesses, governments, and civil society organisations across Asia-Pacific must work more closely together to address escalating water risks, according to new research from WWF and GlobeScan.
The findings come as many countries in the region face growing water stress, climate-related disruptions, flooding, pollution, and increasing pressure on freshwater resources. These challenges are affecting communities, agriculture, industry, and supply chains, highlighting the need for more coordinated responses.
The report, Future Water Agenda: Transforming Collective Action for Shared Water Challenges, draws on insights from 291 water experts across 75 countries and territories. It finds broad consensus that stronger collective action will be essential to tackling growing water risks, yet many existing initiatives remain fragmented, underfunded, and unable to drive system-wide change.
The research points to four key barriers that are limiting the effectiveness of collective action efforts: weak collaboration between the public and private sectors, a proliferation of small-scale projects that do not address system-wide challenges, underfunded water governance, and a lack of financing for collective action initiatives.
These findings are particularly relevant across Asia-Pacific, where water-related risks are increasing, and many river basins span multiple jurisdictions, sectors, and stakeholder groups.
The report calls for a shift away from isolated projects towards catchment-level platforms that bring together businesses, governments, local stakeholders, and civil society around shared goals and measurable outcomes. It also highlights the need for stronger governance, deeper public-private collaboration, and new approaches to financing water initiatives.
The report argues that greater coordination, stronger partnerships, and increased investment will be needed to address growing water risks and strengthen long-term resilience.
Transforming Collective Action for Shared Water Challenges is the second phase of WWF and GlobeScan’s Future Water Agenda research program and builds on last year’s findings, which highlighted the urgent need for greater investment in collective action to address shared water challenges.
About GlobeScan
GlobeScan is an insights and advisory firm specialising in trust, sustainability, and engagement. We equip clients with insights to navigate shifting societal and stakeholder expectations, crafting evidence-based strategies that reduce risks and create value for their organisations and society.
Established in 1987, we have offices in Cape Town, Dubai, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, London, Paris, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto. GlobeScan is a participant of the UN Global Compact and a Certified B Corporation.
About WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organisation with more than 38 million followers and a global network active through local leadership in over 100 countries. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Media contact
Stacy Rowland
Director, Marketing and Communications
GlobeScan
stacy.rowland@globescan.com
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