World View

While ocean processes have long dominated our understanding of climate variability, growing evidence reveals that changes in terrestrial water are an unseen force reshaping the Earth’s climate, with its decline potentially accelerating global warming and pushing us toward a dangerous tipping point.

Despite widespread use, many shoreline models rely on foundational assumptions that introduce significant uncertainties in coastal predictions and associated management decisions. As climate change intensifies risks to vulnerable coastal systems, it is imperative to strengthen efforts toward developing more robust and context-appropriate modelling approaches that reflect the evolving dynamics of coastal systems.

Vegetation restoration benefits ecosystems and climate resilience, yet it requires better integration of albedo effects, scale-dependent interdisciplinary investigations, and cross-sectoral collaboration to optimize its hydroclimatic and policy outcomes.

Interfacial solar evaporation technology is becoming versatile for addressing a range of global challenges, and is expected to play a more vital role in addressing water scarcity and energy shortages in the next decade.

Groundwater drains to the land surface, generating the baseflow of streams, lakes, and wetlands. The hydrologic resilience of baseflow during prolonged dry periods and after disturbance can be assessed with evolving remote sensing analysis paired with localized monitoring of groundwater drainage features and creative model calibration strategies.

We have the tools and solutions we need to address shared water challenges in a changing climate; however, we lack the political will to implement them through effective cooperation.

Water, sanitation, and health are inseparable — poor planning risks contaminating water sources and sowing the seeds of long-term health crises.

Water pollution in the Seine and Thames rivers underscores the urgent need for unified and global action. As climate change intensifies, outdated infrastructure and reactive measures fall short. We must adopt proactive strategies, improve wastewater treatment, and implement nature-based solutions.

Despite positive signs regarding the decreasing presence of specific PFAS in the blood of sampled humans, we do not know enough about this broad class of substances to justify stopping research on their toxicity.

Even though approaches to artificially reduce local glacier melt have been developed, they face considerable challenges on the larger scale. To mitigate the negative effects of an imminent loss of mountain glaciers, preserving the ice by reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the most effective solution.

We must prioritize diversity, scientific communication and team-based science to keep up with rapid Antarctic ice and climate change.

Not accounting for coupled land–water carbon fluxes can lead to flawed understanding and incorrect assessments of climate impact and feedback on the Arctic carbon cycle. There is a need for collaborative studies, between scientific disciplines and approaches, that integrate carbon transformations and fluxes across the Arctic land–water continuum.

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet over two billion worldwide lack this essential resource close to their homes. This scarcity fuels conflict and hampers development globally. Despite the situation’s gravity, I am steadfast in my belief that these challenges can be overcome.

When the substrate for ecological interactions is the river network, the emerging universality of form is reflected in its function as ecological corridor, with implications.

Equitable access to water of the proper quantity and quality is a human right, and water reuse is a proven way to contribute to this goal.

Transformation narratives in water and sanitation emphasize public health and gender equality, yet miss a critical foundational perspective: planetary sustainability.

The toilet could evolve from an unassuming household plumbing fixture to a critical engineering node for onsite wastewater treatment and reuse.

To make an impact, scientists should engage with stakeholders and policy-makers to understand the needs and constraints of decision-making. Working at the intersection of science and policy, where knowledge and action converge, paves the way for a sustainable and thriving future.

Improving sanitation technology and service is imperative for everyone, in every country.

A fourteen-year-old report mobilized a number of water stakeholders but, taken out of context, its results also led to a misunderstanding of the water crisis and its solutions.