Chapter 4: Freshwater-related ecosystems - Measuring Progress: Water-related Ecosystems and the SDGs

This chapter analyses statistical interlinkages between freshwater-related ecosystems and selected Sustainable Development Goal indicators at global, national and basin levels. Using indicators on water extent and quality, it assesses how socioeconomic, environmental and sectoral drivers influence lakes, rivers and reservoirs, and how ecosystem conditions affect poverty, employment, nutrition and access to drinking water. Global analysis highlights strong positive links with conservation coverage and strong negative links with income growth and electronic waste. National case studies for Colombia and Mongolia reveal context-specific patterns shaped by water-use efficiency, energy structure and urbanization. Basin-level evidence from China associates water quality improvements with waste treatment and reduced transport-related pollution. Full report is available at https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/41997