News Making Highlights: U.N. University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada

UNU-INWEH is a U.N. body dedicated to global water issues

Media worldwide have often helped communicate UNU-INWEH's scientific and policy-relevant discoveries and insights to the general public and important decision-making audiences worldwide

With thanks to the hundreds of reporters and thousands of news editors, below are news making highlights from UNU-INWEH's since its founding in 1996

Note: the Meltwater search engine provides the data shown re. countries and languages in which coverage appeared, and the estimated potential reach / public impressions created

12 Oct 2021

25th Anniversary Brochure, click here

Media coverage

"Acclaimed Hamilton-based UN think-tank celebrates 25 years studying water security"

Hamilton Spectator story, click here

14 Jan 2019

U.N. warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Too much brine? Study highlights growing toxic brine problem"

The Associated Press story, click here

"The World Can Make More Water From the Sea, but at What Cost?"

New York Times story, click here

NYT pdf

Links to all media coverage: Potential reach 1.35 billion; Countries 84; Languages 24

22 Jan 2021

Ageing dams pose growing threat: UN

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050"

The Guardian story, click here

"Ageing dams in India, US, other nations pose growing threat: UN report"

Times of India story, click here

Links to all media coverage: Potential reach 1.4 billion; Countries 41; Languages 16

11 January, 2023

Large dams’ capacity seen dropping 26% by 2050 due to sediment: UN

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

Trapped sediment in dams 'endangers' water supplies: UN

Agence France Presse story, click here

World's dams to lose a quarter of storage capacity by 2050 - UN research

Reuters story, click here

Links to all 434 media articles: Potential reach 1.3 billion; Countries 50; Languages 21

May 30, 2022

The abundance of diverse “unconventional water sources”

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

UN experts call upon nations to tap ‘unconventional water resources’

The Hill's story, click here

Wasserknappheit? Vier originelle Lösungen (Water scarcity? Four original solutions?

Deutsche Welle story, click here

Links to all 300 media articles: Potential reach 1 billion; Countries 45; Languages 11

March 21, 2022

UN: 500 million live in 19 African nations deemed water insecure

UNU-INWEH news release click here

Climate change is making armed conflict worse. Here’s how.

New York Times article, click here

500 million people in Africa remain 'water insecure': UN report

The Hill's story, click here

Links to all 152 media articles: Potential reach 1.1 billion; Countries 26; Languages 9, click here

1 Oct 2021

New UN Mapping Tool Reveals Global Floods Since 1985 to Aid Disaster Planning, Especially in the Global South

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example coverage:

"The 100 greatest innovations of 2021"

Popular Science story, click here

"Hamilton-based UN think tank’s flood mapping tool named one of 2021’s 100 greatest innovations"

Hamilton Spectator story, click here

"Earth's floods mapped: UN develops an interactive tool that reveals street-level resolution maps of floods worldwide since 1985"

Daily Mail story, click here

"New Online Tool Offers Up-To-Date Maps Of Floods Worldwide"

Forbes story, click here

Links to all media coverage: Potential reach 364 million; Countries 27; Languages 9

3 Feb 2020

Vast amounts of valuable energy, nutrients, water lost in world’s fast-rising wastewater streams

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Reaping resources from sewers"

Science Magazine story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 175 million; Countries 34; Languages 6

5 Sep 2013

News release 2

Rising use of wastewater in forecast but world lacks data on ‘massive potential resource

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

Agencia EFE, Spain / Latin America (world's 4th largest newswire): "Informe señala aumento del uso de aguas residuales tratadas en todo el mundo"

Agencia EFE story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 71.7 million; Countries 47; Languages 16

3 Nov 2015

Vast energy value in human waste

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Burning humanity’s poop could yield up to $9.5 billion"

Washington Post story, click here

"What waste: human excrement can fuel developing world"

Daily Mail story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 1.6 billion; Countries 59; Languages 14

14 Dec 2006

Experts advise world policies to cope with causes, rising consequences of creeping desertification

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Future refugees will flee climate impact"

Hamilton Spectator story, click here

"Droughts to set off exodus"

Toronto Star story, click here

Click for full coverage: 35 Countries; 13 Languages

28 Oct 2014

World losing 2,000 hectares of farm soil daily to salt damage

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Salt of the Earth"

National Geographic story, click here

"UN urges salt-damage solution to reduce threat to crops"

BBC story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 198.5 million; Countries: 34; Languages: 11

15 Sep 2015

World loses trillions of dollars worth of nature's benefits each year due to land degradation

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Damaging the land we live on is costing humans trillions every year"

Washington Post story, click here

"Land degradation costs the world up to $10.6tn a year, report says"

Guardian story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 884 million; Countries: 32; Languages: 13

27 Jun 2007

Desertification: UN experts prescribe global policy overhaul to avoid looming mass migrations

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Likely Spread of Deserts to Fertile Land Requires Quick Response, UN Report says

New York Times / International Herald Tribune story (front page), click here

NYT pdf

"Desertification threat to global stability: U.N. study"

Reuters story, click here

Click for full coverage: 34 Countries; 12 languages

29 May 2019

Flow water research and education more towards developing world: UN University

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example coverage

"Developing nations need focus on water research: UN"

IANS story, click here

InterPress Service newswire: "Water Research & Education Needs to Flow Towards Developing World"

IPS oped, click here

Coverage summary, Reach 10 million, 14 Countries

6 Feb 2010

Water experts of 26 UN agencies meet in Canada, plan coordinated response to looming crisis

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Water at core of climate change impacts: experts"

Reuters story, click here

"Experts arrive at Mac to tackle water crisis"

Hamilton Spectator story, click here

Click for full coverage: 30 countries; 7 Languages

3 Mar 2018

Canada in the global water world: A UN analysis of capabilities

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage

"UN Analysis Looks at Canadian Water Capabilities"

Water World story, click here

27 Feb 2011

News release 2

Canada's role grows amid looming world water shortages in some places, more flooding in others

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

Agence France Presse: "Scientists warn of water woes"

Agence France Presse story, click here

"Canada called on to be a global leader on water: panel"

Postmedia story, click here

Click for full coverage: 35 Countries; 6 Languages

10 Sep 2012

Former world leaders call on UN Security Council to recognize water as a top concern

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Former world leaders sound alarm on global water crisis"

The Canadian Press story, click here

"Twenty more 'Niles' needed to feed growing population-leaders"

Reuters story, click here

Click for full coverage: 33 Countries; 11 Languages

18 Mar 1999

Unsafe Water: 3.3 Billion Illnesses and 5.3 Million Deaths Yearly Price Tab for Safe Water $50 to $105 Per Person

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"WATER: UN Agencies Warn Of Bleak Future Without Action"

Financial Times story (front page), click here

"Water: Not A Drop To Drink; Nearly a billion people in 50 countries live with severe shortages. What can the world do?"

Newsweek story, click here

Click for full coverage: 11+ Countries

22 Mar 2013

'Water Security': Experts propose a UN definition on which much depends

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Water as vital to national security as defence, U.N. says"

Reuters story, click here

Deutsche Presse Agentur: "UN offers new definition for water security"

Deutsche Presse Agentur story, click here

Click for full coverage: Countries 48: Languages 5

22 Feb 2015

Achieve international water goals to preempt looming conflicts born of desperation: UN

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Ending subsidies, water sector graft key for global development- UN"

Reuters story, click here

Agencia EFE, Spain: "La ONU advierte de conflictos causados por la grave escasez futura de agua"

EFE story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 17 million; Countries 15; Languages 3

22 March 2019

News release 2

UN University debuts online tool to help nations meet 2030 goal: Clean water, sanitation for all

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example coverage

Newswire, Madrid: "La Universidad de la ONU lanza una herramienta online para alcanzar la meta de agua limpia y saneamiento para todos"

Europa Press story, click here

Coverage summary: Reach 6 million, 5 Countries, 2 Languages

19 Oct 2008

News release

Providing toilets, safe water is top route to reducing world poverty: UN University

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"UN study says toilets can help combat poverty"

Agence France Presse story, click here

"Better water, sanitation keys to easing poverty: U.N."

Reuters story, click here

Click for full coverage: 37 Countries; 10 Languages

News release 2

Sanitation investment in poor countries would yield $9-to-1 benefits in productivity, health: UN

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Better sanitation has huge economic spin-offs: U.N."

Reuters story, click here

"Cleaning Up the World's Sanitation"

ABC News story, click here

Click for full coverage: 14 Countries; 6 Languages

14 April 2010

News release

Greater access to cell phones than toilets in India: UN

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"More cell phones in India than toilets: UN report"

Press Trust of India story, click here

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 20 Sept. 2012: "There are many countries in the world today where there are far more mobile cell phones than toilets. That is a gap that we certainly should be able to close."

Hillary Clinton speech, click here

Matt Damon, CNN: 19 Nov 2013

CNN story, click here

Matt Damon public service ad, click here

Click for full coverage: 32 Countries; 14 Languages

23 Dec 2014

News release

Vulnerability to dengue virus: UN University publishes 1st global maps

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Risk of dengue increases due to climate change, city growth: research"

Reuters story, click here

Agencia EFE, Spain: "Investigadores de la ONU crean mapa global de vulnerabilidad al dengue"

EFE story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 661 million; Countries 28; Languages 4

2 Sep 2016

News release

Experts warn booming seaweed industry

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Booming Seaweed Farming Exposes Producers and Environment to Risks, Experts Warn"

National Geographic story, click here

"Seaweed farming, a sudden slimy success, needs greener rules-UN"

Reuters story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 956 million; Countries 40; Languages 6

4 June 2008

News release

Coastal management cooperation, enforcement key to avoid pending crisis for millions: UN experts

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Scientists warn of coastal ecosystem destruction if management not improved"

Canadian Press story, click here

"Ocean coasts in grave danger, Hamilton-based think tank says"

Hamilton Spectator story, click here

Click for other coverage highlights

28 July 2011

News release

Ongoing global biodiversity loss unstoppable with protected areas alone: Study

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

BBC story, click here

"Biodiversity On Earth Plummets, Despite Growth in Protected Habitats"

Huffington Post story, click here

Click for full coverage: 15 Countries; 3 Languages

14 Nov 2012

News release

Preserve the services of mangroves — Earth’s invaluable coastal forests, experts urge

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage:

"Mangroves under threat from shrimp farms: U.N."

Reuters story, click here

Agencia EFE, Spain: "Científicos advierten sobre la consecuencia de destrucción de los manglares"

EFE story, click here

Click for full coverage: Countries 28; Languages 4

31 Nov 2019

News release

UN University compares technologies that remove arsenic from groundwater

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage

"Only five water arsenic removal technologies reach WHO standard: Study"

IndoAsian News Service story, click here

"Arsenic in groundwater – no silver bullet"

SciDev story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach: 9 million; Countries 13; Languages 4

1 Oct 2015

News release

Water problem hotspots demand effective new approaches to international cooperation

UNU-INWEH news release, click here

Example media coverage

"Govts must cooperate more in water 'hotspots' to prevent conflict-UN University"

Reuters story, click here

Agencia EFE, Spain: "La ONU advierte sobre problemas de saneamiento en los países latinoamericanos"

EFE story, click here

Click for full coverage: Reach 244 million; Countries 11; Languages 4

UN host-country and core funding agreements: Government of Canada

Hosted by: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

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