Kaveh Madani

Nov 09, 2026Director, UN University Institute for Water, Environment and HealthMandel is a senior editor at TIME.Moe Doiron—ReutersThis year, the U.N. issued its landmark Global Water Bankruptcy report, authored by Kaveh Madani, who is known for coining the concept of “water bankruptcy.” The report warns that the world is using more water than can be replenished. But instead of just viewing this crisis as a risk, Madani frames it as a strategic investment opportunity—take action now and we not only avoid going bankrupt, but biodiversity and humanity can become more resilient. In honor of his leadership, Madani was named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, receiving what’s often dubbed the “Nobel Prize” of water. What is the single most important action you think the public, or a specific company or government (other than your own), needs to take in the next year to advance the climate agenda?We must stop treating climate change as a separate, competing agenda and start integrating it into our economic and development priorities. This is particularly important in today's increasingly fragmented world, where competing priorities and limited resources make collective action more ...