From Great Lakes to Great Lakes

The Importance of Fresh Water

Natural and human communities both depend on fresh water for survival. The North American Great Lakes alone provide drinking water for approximately 40 million people while the African Great Lakes impact the livelihood of around 62 million people. The lakes are also home to wildlife found nowhere else in the world and are critical for biodiversity.

Despite its importance, we don’t have an endless supply. Only 3% of the water on our planet is fresh water. The North American Great Lakes make up about 21% of this while the African Great Lakes make up 25%. The rest of this precious resource is found in places like glaciers, streams, rivers, ponds and wetlands.

Just like the Great Lakes systems, the issues we’re facing are big. But with the power of our global organization, we can fundamentally change the world’s freshwater future. Strong science, powerful partnerships and shared knowledge can help us manage these globally important systems across multiple jurisdictions. It’s hard work, but necessary so that our freshwater systems can continue to provide the resources our planet needs. People and nature depend on it.