What we're reading
Our approach is situated in the academic tradition of using peer-reviewed research and empirical data. Here, we provide some of the papers that inform our current thinking. They're organised thematically and updated periodically.
General reading
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Key drivers and pressures of global water scarcity hotspots (Leijnse et al., 2024)
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State of global water resources Report 2022 (WMO, 2023)
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Aqueduct 4.0: Updated Decision-Relevant Global Water Risk Indicators (Kuzma, WRI, 2023)
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The essential drop to Net-Zero: Unpacking freshwater’s role in climate change mitigation (Lundberg et al., SIWI, 2022)
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Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions (He et al., 2021)​​​
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Lost Water: Challenges and Opportunities (Burke et al., S&P, 2013)​
Remote sensing
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User Experience in Earth Observation for Water Management: EO4WAT CoP Meeting Recording (International Water Association, 2023)
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Satellites reveal widespread decline in global lake water storage (Yao et al., 2023)
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Remotely sensed reservoir water storage dynamics (1984–2015) and the influence of climate variability and management at a global scale (Hou, et al, 2022)​
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Simultaneous retrieval of selected optical water quality indicators from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 (Pahlevan et al., 2022)
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Assessing the utility of remote sensing data to accurately estimate changes in groundwater storage (Ahamed et al., 2022)
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The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission River Database (SWORD): A Global River Network for Satellite Data Products (Altenau et al., 2021)
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A Framework for Estimating Global River Discharge From the Surface Water and Ocean Topography Satellite Mission (Durand et al., 2021)
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Unlocking the potential of Earth Observation to address Africa’s critical challenges (World Economic Forum and Digital Earth Africa, 2021)
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High-resolution mapping of global surface water and its long-term changes (Pekel et al., 2016)
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Generating global crop distribution maps: From census to grid (SPAM2000 in You et al., 2014)
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High-resolution mapping of the world's reservoirs and dams for sustainable river-flow management (Lehner et al., 2011)
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Remote Sensing Techniques to Assess Water Quality (Ritchie et al., 2003)
Measuring in situ
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A review of citizen science and community-based environmental monitoring: issues and opportunities (Conrad & Hilchey, 2010)
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Contextual data​
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Putting water strategy into context: A practical guide to connect corporate strategic objectives to local water context. WWF (Dobson & Morgan, 2021)
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​Exploring the case for corporate context-based water targets (Gillespy et al., 2017)
Water quality​
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Science Based Targets Network Technical Guidance: Step 3 Freshwater: Measure, Set & Disclose (Dilks et al., 2023)
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WASH​
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New Expectations & Game-Changing Ambitions for the Water Action Decade (WASH4Work, 2023)
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Results-based funding working papers (Uptime, 2023)
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Understanding the WASH system and its building blocks. IRC Working Paper on Building strong WASH systems for the SDGs (Huston & Moriarty, 2018)​
Collective action​
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“The 100 basins”: Mapping of Collective Action Opportunities for Water Stewardship (Camargo et al., 2023)
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Turning the Tide: A Call to Collective Action (Global Commission on the Economics of Water, 2023)
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Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting 2.0 Guidance (Bluerisk and others, 2023)
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A Decade in Review: Practical Perspectives and Experience in Driving Impactful Water Replenishment Initiatives (Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, 2023)
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Guide to Water-Related Collective Action (Greenwood et al., CEO Water Mandate, 2013)​
Water valuation​
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Funding a Water Secure Future: An Assessment of Global Public Spending (World Bank, 2024)
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High cost of cheap water: The true value of water and freshwater ecosystems to people and planet (WWF, 2023)
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The price and value of water: An economic review (Grafton et al., 2023)
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Water – is there a problem and what can we do? (Elmore-Jones, Mercer, 2023)
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A review of water valuation metrics: Supporting sustainable water use in manufacturing (Das et al., 2023)
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Dynamic water pricing and the risk adjusted user cost (Chu & Grafton, 2021)
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​The United Nations World Water Development Report 2021: Valuing Water (UNESCO, 2021)
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Achieving abundance: Understanding the cost of a sustainable water future (Strong et al., WRI, 2020)
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Rethinking the economics of water: an assessment (Garrick, Hanemann & Hepburn, 2020)
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The paradox of water pricing: dichotomies, dilemmas, and decisions (Grafton, Chu & Wyrwoll, 2020)
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Valuing water for sustainable development: Measurement and governance must advance together (Garrick et al., 2017)​​​