11889 Focus on the Americas at World Water Week 2024 (in English)

Resilient water depends on transboundary water management cooperation. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the richest hydrological region in the world, with 38 transboundary basins in South America and 29 in Central America. The Amazon alone accounts for about 30% of the total global freshwater reserves. We can also find the world’s biggest aquifer, Guaraní, and the biggest tropical wetland, the Pantanal ecoregion. These systems also host around 140 cities with accelerated growth that are expected to duplicate their population in 20 years. However, basic services as water, sanitation and waste management are still a pending debt for millions of people in the region. This Live Talkshow will provide an overview of the main challenges to overcome to promote successful and effective transboundary water management in LAC as explored in depth through the Focus on the Americas 2024 sessions.