Towards achieving global freshwater sustainability

As the UK has just experienced one of its driest springs on record, Professor Simon Gosling reflects on his research into sustainable solutions for managing the planet’s freshwater.

Too much, too fast: Rethinking water use in a warming climate 

In 2025, the UK experienced one of its driest springs on record, and in May 2025, the Environment Agency declared a state of drought for the north-west of England. This announcement has sparked growing concerns about water shortages if dry conditions continue later in the year. 

Around the same time, the UK Government announced plans to build two major reservoirs—the first since the 1990s. This is a step in the right direction as major infrastructure projects like dams and reservoirs are some of the ways we can respond to increasing variability and extremes in water availability in the future.

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