Based on consultations with stakeholders, the key themes to consider for maximizing this opportunity include: –Scale-up circularity everywhere: stakeholders suggest that increasing water reuse requires a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to address financial, infrastructure and regulatory challenges, as fragmented efforts are insufficient to meet growing freshwater demands, despite technological advancements and increasing policy support. –Diversify water sources: alternative water sources such as desalination and rainwater harvesting show potential to enhance water resilience, highlighting the need for cross- sector collaboration to overcome scalability challenges, reduce costs and develop innovative business models (e.g. approaching desalination as an “ecosystem venture” to unlock cross- industry synergies). –Make water supply energy-efficient: water and energy must be addressed together, as water systems are major energy consumers and emitters, but improving efficiency and adopting circular wastewater management can reduce costs, carbon emissions and overall energy demand. Through a system-wide approach, solutions and measures can be deployed at scale, with the goal of minimizing the water footprint of human activities on freshwater ecosystems. Put the hydrological cycle at the core of the thinking, and adopt holistic, innovation-driven strategies and collaborative models to build resilient, efficient and sustainable water systems. This opportunity focuses on rethinking how water is used and governed in the long term, considering blue and green water, as well as the stark realities of grey water, which should be considered as a resource as well.58 Shaping collaborative models that combine governance and stewardship should consider risk mitigation and the potential of digital tools and AI at their core. Focus area 2 Rethink water use and restore ecosystems Water Futures: Mobilizing Multi-Stakeholder Action for Resilience 14

Water Futures Mobilizing Multi Stakeholder Action for Resilience 2025