Why we must all pull together to solve the world’s wicked water problems
By Stuart Orr, WWF Global Freshwater Lead and William Sarni, Founder and CEO, Water Foundry; Founder and General Partner, The Future of Water Fund; and Board Member, Rocky Mountain Rowing Club
As the winners of this weekend’s World Rowing Championships flashed past the finishing line, keen eyed spectators (and many more watching on screens around the globe) would have seen two famous logos on banners along the bank — World Rowing’s blue circle and the WWF panda. And between them the words that tie these partners together — Clean Water.
For years, the two organizations have been working together on water. But it’s time for WWF and World Rowing to strain their sinews even more and pull together even harder because global water challenges are only getting more complex. And we need everyone onboard.
Across the world, watersheds are facing unprecedented threats from the impacts of climate change as manifested in extreme weather events, flooding and aridification (“permanent droughts”).
Climate change is a threat multiplier for water resources and freshwater ecosystems and exacerbates the persistent water challenges humanity has faced for decades: over-allocation of water resources, underfunded and outdated infrastructure, undervaluing water for economic development, business growth, society and ecosystems, outdated public policies, and poor engagement with civil society on what needs to change to address our water crisis.
These “wicked water problems” can only be solved by engaging all stakeholders — the private and public sectors, NGOs, academics, investors, entrepreneurs and civil society. Engaging and mobilizing civil society on the issues of water, climate change and biodiversity loss (most catastrophic among freshwater species) is the most powerful opportunity to scale solutions and positively influence public policy. In particular, the segment of civil society that understands the recreational value of water can — indeed must — be readily engaged to take action to address these challenges.
And few groups have a closer connection to water as rowers.
Rowing has a long, storied history, spreading from its roots in England to rivers and reservoirs around the world. The sport of rowing unofficially began in the 1700s when watermen would race in long barges on the river Thames in England. Its modern incarnation began in 1829 when ‘gentlemen’ created the Oxford-Cambridge race. A decade later came the famous Henley Royal Regatta.
Rowing is one of the oldest Olympic sports. Today, there are fourteen boat classes that race at the Olympics and twenty-two at this weekend’s World Championships. Across six continents, 150 countries now have rowing federations that participate in the sport.
Rowing is unique. Sitting in narrow boats close to the water, rowers use two oars (sculling) or one oar (sweep), all the time facing backwards — unable to see where they are heading. Maybe this is what heightens rowers’ physical and emotional connection to the water — as they glide just above the water, watching the “puddles” form from each blade stroke, and feeling the “magic” when everyone in a boat is rowing (or indeed flowing) in sync.
And yet rowers remain a largely untapped resource of action on water. And this is why water professionals like us — who are dedicated to solving water scarcity, poor quality, degradation of rivers, lakes and wetlands, and equitable access to safe drinking water — have begun reaching out to rowers to increase water conservation and stewardship awareness.
The partnership between WWF and World Rowing provides an excellent platform and after focusing at the global level, it has now expanded to include engagement with the Rocky Mountain Rowing Club (RMRC) in Denver, Colorado — showcasing the importance of local rowing partners because as all ‘water experts’ will tell you, “we’re facing a global water crisis but water challenges and solutions are local.”
The collaboration between the RMRC, WWF and World Rowing has resulted in webinars with Olympic rowers, WWF professionals and rowers interested in learning more about water conservation and stewardship. It has expanded to working with the local communities and schools near the RMRC rowing venue (Cherry Creek Reservoir). These initiatives have resulted in RMRC members becoming much more aware of the quality of water in the Cherry Creek Watershed and the impacts of climate change on water in the American West.
It has also shown them a glimpse of the challenges faced by the Kafue river in Zambia and the importance of an innovative flagship project between World Rowing and WWF — the Kafue River and Rowing Center. As its name suggests, the center will be a home for cutting edge river science and collective water stewardship action by corporates as well as a huge boost to rowing in the country and the southern African region.
But the KRRC also outlines where the World Rowing and WWF partnership is going — and why it needs more Rocky Mountain Rowing Clubs to join us on this journey. We need to focus on more than just clean water. We need to focus on enhancing the health of the ecosystems that provide it — the rivers, lakes and wetlands. Ecosystems that are still being lost and degraded at an alarming rate.
Rowers know this because they are out on the water. Now they have a chance to make a difference. We need rowers and rowing clubs around the world to not only call for cleaner water but also to demand better water management and inspire communities, companies, and governments to work together to enhance river basin health — as that is central to solving the world’s wicked water problems.
