U.N. prioritizes global water crisis amidst conflicts and climate change.

The United Nations held a global conference on water for the first time in 46 years, with a focus on addressing the world’s many water problems and making progress toward a goal of ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation for all people. About 40% of the world’s population is affected by water scarcity, according to the United Nations, and demand for water continues to grow. The conference also prominently featured discussions about nature-based solutions, such as restoring river floodplains and coastal wetlands, and dismantling concrete flood-control channels to allow stormwater to recharge aquifers.