Welcoming World Water Policy Journal

• Published date: 01 May 2019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12005
• Author: Paul Rich
• Date: 01 May 2019

World Water Policy. 2019;5:5–5. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wwp2

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© 2019 Policy Studies Organization.

Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DOI: 10.1002/wwp2.12005

LAUDATORY GREETING

Welcoming World Water Policy Journal

In the fall of 2014, I had the great pleasure of welcoming a new journal to the Policy Studies

Organization stable of publications. That journal, New Water Policy and Practice, aimed to help ad-

dress an old and growing problem—how to achieve a sustainable water future. Recognizing the need

to nurture new people and new ideas, New Water Policy and Practice aimed to provide a platform for

the world's emerging water leaders and thinkers.

Over the past 5years, the world's water challenges have expanded. Many existing problems have

got worse and many new challenges have emerged, such that water is now recognized as one of the

most pressing global challenges. According to the United Nations, an estimated 40% shortfall in fresh-

water resources by 2030 coupled with a burgeoning world population has the world careening towards

a global water crisis.

In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 17

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to transform the world. The SDGs are a “call to action” across

the globe, recognizing that ending poverty must go hand in hand with strategies that build economic

growth and address a range of social needs, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

Given that water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population and 2.4 billion people still

lack access to basic sanitation, water is specifically addressed through SDG6, which aims for universal and

equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all by 2030. Importantly, there is

strong recognition that good water management is a prerequisite to achieving most, if not all of the SDG.

It is in this context of global change and increasing water challenges that we take a new step

by launching World Water Policy journal. Published by Wiley‐Blackwell in partnership with Policy

Studies Organization, World Water Policy journal will continue and strengthen the original intent

of New Water Policy and Practice—focusing on global water policy and practice, and providing a

platform for the world's emerging water leaders and thinkers—with new and great opportunities that

publishing with Wiley‐Blackwell creates.

Good editors are a rare find and Jeff Camkin and Susana Neto have proved to be far more than the

ordinary editors—they have built an amazing network of the interested and a place where top scholars

can have a useful dialogue about the enormous problems presented by the succession of world water

challenges. They have shaped and formed the journal as a major resource with bright prospects for the

future, and hence, it is no surprise that having their project attract so much attention that it has also

attracted the resources of Wiley—which will be added to those of the Policy Studies Organization

(PSO) to ensure wider distribution of their ideas and hopes. We simply cannot say enough for their

cheerful efforts to pull together all sorts of complex topics that are part of the enlarging discussion

and give to them the shape and form and direction that have produced such an indispensable resource.

I look forward to seeing the World Water Policy Journal take its place in helping to address the

water challenges of communities across the continents.

PaulRich

President

Policy Studies Organization,Garfield House, Washington, District of Columbia