This introductory course examines the environmental, social, and economic impacts that water governance and supply have and how SDG 6, clean water and sanitation, can be achieved.

Water is the key to life. As a necessary resource for all living things, it holds significant power. However, many communities and ecosystems are threatened by the lack of clean and reliable water sources. The water crisis will only be solved if water can be used sustainably for all.

This course, created by both the SDG Academy and the Stockholm International Water Institute, discusses the global water crisis and the challenges that threaten SDG 6, clean water and sanitation. The course presents theoretical knowledge and case studies that show examples of good water governance and both cooperation and conflict as a result of shared water resources. In addition, it discusses the issue of water sanitation, the function of water in ecosystems, climate change, and water in food and energy development.

Target Audience
Undergraduate and graduate students interested in issues concerning water supply and governance, development practitioners and water rights activists.

Learning Objectives
To understand the environmental, social and economic dimensions of water as a resource, the obstacles to achieving SDG 6, and the necessity of universal cooperation for clean water for all.