The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report has been completed with the publication of its summary. It outlines the climate situation so compellingly that everyone can understand it. We are not on the right track to reduce climate change or adapt to its disastrous scenarios. Nevertheless, science is doing its best and concludes: the future is NOW. 

689 agreements, but none binding. The recent United Nations Water Conference shows once again how difficult it is for the international community to deal decisively with the urgent sustainable and fair management of water resources. It would take 300 billion dollars to obtain one trillion dollars in benefits for humanity. Funds are available, but there is little will to invest. The good news is that water has moved to the forefront of the world's attention.

On World Water Day, the UN calls for accelerating the progress toward achieving water and sanitation for all. The road to SDG 6 has become challenging: we must complete a fourfold increase in speed. But, with cooperation, we can overcome anything. Our experience confirms it: alone, we will not succeed; if we unite, obstacles become opportunities.

The pollution of water by intensive agriculture and livestock farming has a high health and environmental cost. This problem's solution is as complex as it is urgent. We must be able to provide food security for 8 billion people without damaging the environment. Water free of pollutants will indicate that we have achieved this.

A sustainable world must meet current human needs without compromising those of future generations. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on what we understand by these concepts, the meaning of which varies dramatically depending on the human group to which we refer. The contrasts in access to water provide a reasonable basis for this reflection, which is essential if we are to agree on what we mean by sustainability.

The search for solutions to the pollution caused by mercury used in artisanal gold mining reveals how difficult it is to deal with a semi-clandestine activity widespread in many developing countries, often generating an informal economy. Mercury causes death and keeps more than one million people worldwide chronically and silently ill. Developing global ethics for the gold market is essential to end dumping and provide justice for miners.

The earthquake in Turkey is a humanitarian tragedy that has again shown that disaster risks increase with neglect, corruption, and poverty. Destruction is always associated with poorly built infrastructure and an uninformed population.

The world of water shows us that we must study problems and approach solutions from a global perspective. All human activities are closely interrelated, and isolated sectoral initiatives run a high risk of failure in terms of efficiency and sustainability.