Conservation and sustainable use of water facing the climate emergency: The need for a polycentric and networked governance

We critically examine the current state of aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the escalating demands and the multifaceted impacts faced by them and their biotas. Special emphasis is placed on peculiarities of key sectors capable of producing major impacts, namely: agribusiness, mining, inadequate health and basic sanitation, and technological infrastructures. The urban perspective was also incorporated in the analysis, addressing a projected future of cities and their interactions with water resources, emphasizing the pursuit of sustainability in the context of urbanization, since approximately 70 % of the global population resides in urban areas. The article provides an overview of the major impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, projecting that these effects will become increasingly severe, spatially concentrated, and frequent. To underscore the critical need for action, we advocate for substantial investments in conservation initiatives to restore ecological balance of aquatic ecosystems within planetary limits. Recognizing water as the essential foundation of life on Earth demands particular attention and the urgency for its sustainable use. A polycentric and networked governance, yet to be built, is our suggestion as an effective approach to optimize adaptive actions to face climate change and to realign aquatic ecosystems within planetary boundaries.