Valuing Nutrients and Wastewater: Transforming hidden costs into investment opportunities

Simple item page
dc.contributor.approvalRecordUNEP Publication Board
dc.contributor.authorUnited Nations Environment Programme
dc.contributor.organizationEcosystems Division
dc.contributor.otherGhafari, Dany
dc.contributor.otherGachie, Alvin John
dc.contributor.otherKhayota, Erick
dc.contributor.otherHussain, Salman
dc.contributor.otherLamb, Cate
dc.contributor.otherWalker, Laverne
dc.contributor.otherBernaudat, Ludovic
dc.contributor.otherHanna, Nada
dc.contributor.otherBorgford-Parnell, Nathan
dc.contributor.otherBrandes, Raymond
dc.contributor.otherHamdan, Olfat
dc.contributor.otherCavus, Erol
dc.contributor.otherSavelli-Soderberg, Heidi
dc.contributor.otherPires, Alex
dc.contributor.otherVan Der Poel, Stephanie
dc.contributor.otherLiu, Ning
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-18T11:37:45Z
dc.date.issued2026-08
dc.date.submitted2026-08-18
dc.descriptionThis policy brief addresses the critical global challenges posed by nutrient and wastewater mismanagement, which have significant negative impacts on economies, ecosystems, human health, and climate stability. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), essential nutrients for plant growth, are often overused or poorly managed, leading to water contamination, algal blooms, hypoxic zones, and poor air quality. Wastewater, if untreated or inadequately managed, exacerbates these problems and poses serious public health risks, including the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This brief is intended for stakeholders who shape policies across agriculture, water, transportation, industry, environment, and public health, especially policymakers, financial institutions, and technical experts. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes an ecosystem-based approach, recognizing that nutrient pollution and wastewater are deeply interconnected yet often addressed through separate lenses (e.g., agricultural productivity vs. pollution control). This brief bridges those silos and supports integrated, cross-sectoral action.en
dc.description.reviewStatusinternal review only
dc.description.statusFinal
dc.formatpdf
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.59117/20.500.11822/49840
dc.identifier.isbn978-92-807-4294-7
dc.identifier.otherDEP/2776/NA
dc.identifier.urihttps://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/49840
dc.languageEnglish
dc.page.number28 p.
dc.relation.TableOfContentsExecutive Summary
dc.relation.TableOfContents01 Purpose and objectives
dc.relation.TableOfContents02 Opportunities versus business as usual
dc.relation.TableOfContents03 Addressing the nutrient and wastewater challenge – policies and frameworks
dc.relation.TableOfContents04 Financial mechanisms
dc.relation.TableOfContents05 Conclusions and way forward
dc.relation.TableOfContents06 References
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGOen
dc.rights.accessLevelPublic
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/
dc.subject.sdgSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
dc.subject.sdgSDG 14 - Life below Water
dc.subject.themechemistry
dc.subject.themewater pollutant
dc.subject.themehuman health
dc.subject.themedisease
dc.titleValuing Nutrients and Wastewater: Transforming hidden costs into investment opportunitiesen
dc.typePolicy brief

Download

Original bundle

Showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Valuing-Nutrients-and-Wastewater-Policy Brief.pdf
Size:
2.5 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
English
Download

Collections

Policy papers