Adaptation through Water 2025

Images: Getty Images Contents Foreword 3 Executive summary 4 1 Adaptation is critical for Southeast Asia 6 2 Why water is the ideal point of entry to adaptation 7 2.1 Three water challenges – too much, too little, too dirty 8 2.2 Too much 9 2.3 Too little 11 2.4 Too dirty 15 3 Five case studies to catalyse adaptation through water 17 Case Study 1: Belize Blue Cities and Beyond: a multi-pronged 19 strategy for coastal flooding defence and pollution abatement Case Study 2: Rebalance Earth: funding nature-based solutions 20 for riverine flood resilience Case Study 3: Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project: combating 21 chronic metro-area river flooding Case Study 4: SERVIR-Mekong AI system: a high-tech, 22 decentralized approach to water resource optimization Case Study 5: The Büyük Menderes water stewardship and 23 cleaner production support programme: a circularity strategy for addressing pollution and shortage 4 Taking action: four directions for the private sector 24 Conclusion 27 Contributors 28 Acknowledgements 28 Endnotes 30 Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other stakeholders. © 2025 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system. Adaptation through Water: Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia 2