By: Joonhee Kim, KGGTF 2025 Youth Intern
Water security is a growing challenge in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), where millions still lack access to clean water and proper sanitation. In a recent lecture by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist James Tay stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges. “Water is the starting point of development and climate adaptation. But its prioritization is often lacking. Without urgent intervention, we risk economic instability, food insecurity, and irreversible environmental damage.” He highlighted the need for a strategic approach to managing water resources sustainably, improving agricultural water efficiency, and implementing climate-resilient policies.
Despite progress, over 80 million people in EAP lack basic drinking water access, and 154 million require safely managed sanitation. Non-revenue water (NRW) losses remain a major issue, averaging 30% across the region and reaching up to 90% in Kiribati. Agricultural water productivity is below the OECD average, increasing food insecurity risks, while climate change intensifies floods, droughts, and groundwater depletion. In Indonesia, where 50% of GDP is generated in water-stressed river basins, economic losses from water shortages could reach 2.5% of GDP by 2045. These challenges call for urgent action to improve water resource management and infrastructure.
To address these issues, the World Bank introduced the Water Multi-Phase Approach (MPA), focusing on three key objectives: Water for People, Water for Food, and Water for Planet. Water for People aims to expand sustainable access to clean water and sanitation while leveraging economic benefits. Water for Food focuses on enhancing water productivity to strengthen food security. Water for Planet seeks to integrate climate-resilient water resource management to mitigate floods, protect ecosystems, and reduce disaster risks. These objectives are supported by policy reforms, institutional improvements, and private sector engagement to ensure long-term sustainability.
Over the past decade (2014-2024), the World Bank has committed significant resources to water security in EAP, including $6.71 billion in water supply and sanitation, $1.66 billion in irrigation and drainage, and $2.38 billion in water resource management. These investments have yielded major improvements. 78% of the population now has access to safely managed water, while open defecation decreased from 64 million people in 2015 to 27 million in 2022. Sanitation treatment rates in Indonesia and Vietnam increased from 50% to 70% (2010-2020), and China improved surface water quality, with 88% of its national water bodies classified as good or fair in 2022, up from 65% in 2015.
Despite these achievements, significant gaps remain. Moving forward, the World Bank aims to achieve universal access to safely managed water, enhance food security through improved water efficiency, and increase policy engagement to attract sustainable investment. The water sector accounts for 10% of global emissions, yet new technologies could reduce wastewater-related emissions by 50% at zero or negative cost. Furthermore, 700 million jobs in EAP depend on stable water resources, reinforcing the link between water security and economic growth.
Governments, businesses, and global stakeholders must work together to make water security a top development priority. “If we do not act now, the costs of inaction will far outweigh the investments needed today,” Tay concluded. His lecture underscored the urgency of immediate action, highlighting that water security is not just an environmental challenge but a fundamental driver of economic stability and sustainable development. Through strategic investments and collaborative policies, EAP can turn its water crisis into an opportunity for resilience and growth.