‘Too much water, too little water, and water that is too polluted’

WEF officials describe today’s crisis as one of “too much water, too little water, and water that is too polluted”. Floods, storms and rising seas coexist with drought, water scarcity and drying rivers, while pollution renders many water sources unsafe. The result, experts warn, is a global hydrological system increasingly out of balance.

‘Year of Water’

The urgency of the issue has led the WEF to frame 2026 as the ‘Year of Water’, culminating in the third UN Water Conference, to be held in the UAE from December 2 to 4. It will be only the third such conference in nearly 50 years, underscoring how long water has remained under-prioritised in global diplomacy. Organisers say the coming year represents a critical moment when political will must finally match the scale of the crisis.

Water-related risks will be high on the agenda at Davos, with the launch of several initiatives aimed at accelerating action across both freshwater and ocean systems. The Forum has stressed that water insecurity is no longer just a humanitarian or environmental concern. With the world’s hydrological cycle destabilised, economies and businesses are increasingly vulnerable to shocks that disrupt agriculture, industry, supply chains, and the functioning of cities.

Economic value of water ecosystems

The annual economic value of water ecosystems is estimated at $58 trillion, making finance a central theme of Blue Davos. Yet, the World Bank notes that only 2–3% of global investment in water currently comes from the private sector, highlighting the need for new financing mechanisms, better risk-sharing models and more accurate valuation of water assets.

To address these gaps, the WEF is focusing on three priority areas for freshwater protection: fit-for-purpose finance, basin-level partnerships and innovation. Officials point to early signs of momentum through dialogues and partnerships already underway.

Ocean systems form the other major pillar of Blue Davos. Ocean innovation is seeing what the WEF calls an unprecedented convergence of technology, capital, policy, and market demand.

Funding in blue economy

Venture capital funding in the blue economy has grown sevenfold over the past eight years and is projected to reach $3 billion in 2025. At the same time, the private sector is increasingly recognising the financial risks of ocean degradation, with continued damage potentially jeopardising up to $8.5 trillion in economic value over the next 15 years.

However, leaders caution that investment alone is insufficient without protecting the ecosystems that water systems sustain, including food security and biodiversity. This is particularly evident in the case of “blue foods” — fish, shellfish, algae, and aquatic plants. Over 3 billion people derive at least 20% of their nutrition from blue foods and the sector employs over 800 million people globally. Demand for blue foods is expected to double by 2050, driven by population growth and their lower carbon footprint compared to land-based protein sources.

The other major launches that are planned include the announcement of winners of the Water Resilience Challenge, the unveiling of a Blue Food Innovation Hub in Ghana, and new reports on financing water and ocean systems.

Year of Water

Explained: What is ‘Blue Davos’ and why 2026 has been declared the ‘Year of Water’