Posted in Blog, Cologne News on Jun 17, 2026.
Author: Nsah Mala
The Plurality of WaterS: The BRIDGES Cologne (UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition) Policy Insights no.4 examines the limitations of the current global approach to water management and shows how the social and cultural dimensions of waters need to be considered.
It responds to a flagship report released by United Nations researchers on January 20, 2026, which declared that the world has entered a state of "global water bankruptcy."
By engaging with recent scholarship - notably discussions from the journal 'Water International' published in February 2026 - the piece advocates for a shift in perspective. It argues that policy frameworks must evolve beyond the singular focus of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 by recognising the "plurality of WaterS," acknowledging the diverse ways in which water is understood, used, and valued across different ecological and social contexts.
Policy Recommendations for a Post-2030 Agenda
Embrace Plurality in Governance; Move Beyond Statistics; Address Power Asymmetries; Adopt a Relational Approach to Justice; Rights-based Approach; Foster Innovative Cooperation.
To read these expanded policy recommendations and the blog in full: Access the Policy Insights #4 Moving Beyond SDG 6: Recognizing The Plurality Of ‘WaterS’, along with previous Policy insight papers, by visiting the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Hub for Planetary Wellbeing website.
