BetaBetaDataset
To provide indicators and analysis for monitoring progress toward the transformation of the global freshwater system, including water-cycle stability, freshwater ecosystems, water quality, freshwater species, and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Freshwater is one of the systems covered by Systems Change Lab, which tracks global progress toward climate, nature, and equity goals. The Freshwater system examines how human activities are affecting the hydrologic cycle, freshwater ecosystems, water quality, freshwater species, and access to water and sanitation. The page frames these issues within the broader need to transform the global freshwater system while advancing SDG 6.
The resource contains global freshwater indicators from the Systems Change Lab, organized around six areas of freshwater-system transformation: water-cycle stability, freshwater ecosystem protection, ecosystem restoration, water pollution and quality, equitable access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and sustainable use of freshwater species. The current dashboard contains 37 indicators, covering topics such as access to water, sanitation and hygiene, water stress, flood risk, groundwater and surface-water conditions, freshwater ecosystem degradation and restoration, water quality, pollution, eutrophication, salinization, freshwater species depletion, and overfishing. Indicators are presented with values, units, trends, targets where available, and progress-status classifications. The dashboard can be filtered by country or area, indicator type, and status. The resource also provides links to individual indicator analyses and the broader Systems Change Lab data download page.
The Systems Change Lab identifies the key shifts required to transform the freshwater system and develops measurable targets and indicators for tracking progress. Indicators are selected and compiled from multiple underlying datasets and sources, based on their relevance to the identified shifts and the availability and quality of data. Historical trends are compared with targets where these exist, and indicators are assigned progress statuses such as on track, off track, well off track, wrong direction, or insufficient data. Information on data sources, limitations, and identified data gaps is also documented for the individual indicators. For a detailed explanation, read the technical note available at:| https://systemschangelab.org/what-is-systems-change | The direct download link is | https://systemschangelab.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/Systems%20Change%20Lab%20Technical%20Note%20November%202022.pdf |