Joining Forces for Water
"The future belongs to those who believe in the power of collective action" – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
This quote by the former President of India resonates deeply with what we witnessed during our 2022 visit to the Ganga River in Varanasi. Our team saw how factories and farms were polluting the river, undermining water quality for families and threatening the river’s health. It became clear that addressing the crises facing our rivers requires more than just one sector’s efforts. Governments, industries, and agriculture must come together to find sustainable solutions for waste disposal and industrial byproducts.
Across the world, collaboration and innovation are driving meaningful change to address the global water crisis. From international events to groundbreaking partnerships and local water warriors, people are joining forces to solve one of our most urgent challenges.
Water is everybody’s business and while we can each make a difference, it’s only by working together that we can truly change the world.
Stockholm World Water Week
Under the theme, ‘Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future’, World Water Week 2024 focused on water cooperation. We are all called to recognise the interconnection between communities and nations, and the collaborative effort needed to achieve a peaceful and sustainable future.
Kicking off the week, we gathered runners from WWF, UNEP, Freshwater Challenge partner organisations and more for a RunBlue fun run! Our run highlighted the world’s water crisis and the urgent need to invest in healthy rivers, lakes and wetlands.
We also joined WWF, UNEP and other Freshwater Challenge partners for a critical event to engage the private sector. The session gathered together a dedicated group of government representatives, business leaders, and NGOs to address the restoration of our freshwater ecosystems.
Having run thousands of kilometers along the world’s most degraded rivers, I have witnessed the stark reality of our global water crisis and the urgent need for action.
From the tinder-dry Pantanal in Bolivia to the sinking Mekong Delta in Vietnam, each step of our journey has reinforced a fundamental truth: the damage we’ve done to our rivers, lakes, and wetlands is undermining our ability to sustain societies, support supply chains, and combat climate change.
But there is hope. The Freshwater Challenge gives us a roadmap to restore 300,000 km of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030. This is our chance to secure a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.
Learn more about the Freshwater Challenge here
RunBlue Goes Electric
RunBlue recently announced an exciting new partnership with Will Smith’s E1 Series team, Westbrook Racing - their ever sustainability-focused partnership. I represented RunBlue at the latest E1 event, and even joined Will Smith for an early morning run along the beautiful hills of Lake Como!
The groundbreaking E1 Series is the world’s first and only all-electric speedboat championship. But this series isn’t just about speed, it’s a step forward for sustainability.
E1 Series and Westbrook Racing are committed to minimising environmental impacts while competing at the highest level. By racing in fully electric boats, they’re not only reducing CO2 emissions but also protecting our lakes, rivers, and oceans. Their commitment to innovation helps protect vital ecosystems, like using smart GPS buoys to prevent seabed damage! Their work is an inspiring example of how high performance and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Community Spotlight
Meet Andrew Watson, one of the incredible water warriors we met during Phase 1 of the RunBlue journey. For Marathon 22/200, we arrived at Andrew’s cotton farm near Narrabri, NSW – a glowing and spectacular example of water use efficiency in Australian cotton.
In 1991, Australian cotton became the first agricultural industry to benchmark its environmental performance. Since then, it has invested in research and development, making it the most water-efficient and highest-quality cotton in the world!
This is a great Australian water success story that shows what’s possible when innovation meets dedication. It was amazing to meet Andrew and see it all in action on his farm.
Water In the News
💧 Energy-efficient device uses solar power to turn seawater into freshwater
💧 As fires continue to roar across the Pantanal in Brazil, the world’s largest wetland is burning, and rare animals are dying
💧 An international jury selects Amazon Frontlines, the first collective of Indigenous and Western activists, to receive 2024 Hilton Humanitarian Prize
💧 Paraguay River is at its lowest water level in more than a century
💧Water Resilience Tracker enables cross-sectoral collaboration
Photo of the Month
Looking out over an area of the Amazon Rainforest suffering from severe deforestation (c) Kelvin Trautman / RunBlue
Join Us!
We would love to hear about your own water stories and initiatives – whether it’s a project you’re working on or updates from your community. Your experiences and insights are invaluable, and we’re excited to highlight them through RunBlue and explore potential collaborations.
Connect with us by replying to this email or reaching out on social media. If you’re interested in joining our next campaign or have feedback, ideas, or thoughts to share, let us know! Together, we can continue to make a difference and inspire change.
Love,
Mina
