亚洲地区在过去十年显著改善了供水与卫生条件，约27亿人、占区域人口约60%，摆脱了最极端的缺水状况。但支撑水安全的自然系统正在快速退化。自1970年以来，全球淡水物种数量下降超过80%。在亚太地区，2013年至2023年间共发生244次重大洪水，占全球的41%，同时还经历了104次干旱和100多次严重风暴，显示水系统脆弱性正在上升。
亚太地区聚集了全球60%的人口，同时承受快速城市化、地下水枯竭、河流污染、森林砍伐和气候变化的叠加压力。亚洲水发展展望覆盖的50个经济体中，自2013年以来大多数在农村、城市和经济用水安全方面有所改善，但在30个经济体中，环境水安全停滞或恶化，即便是整体表现最好的10个经济体，其环境改善幅度也几乎为零。结果是，尽管基础设施投入增加，全球仍约有40亿人面临水质恶化、生态退化和灾害风险。
到2040年，亚太地区水、卫生与个人卫生领域需要约4万亿美元投资，但目前公共支出仅覆盖约40%。资金缺口之外，更关键的是投资结构。尼泊尔的例子表明，虽然94%的农村家庭能获得基本供水，但只有55%接入管道，14%获得无污染水。单靠“灰色”基础设施回报递减，必须将湿地、红树林、洪泛区等自然基础设施与工程系统结合，通过更高效的治理、维护和融资方式，才能在长期内提升水安全与抗灾能力。
Over the past decade, Asia has made major gains in water and sanitation, lifting about 2.7 billion people, roughly 60% of the region’s population, out of the most extreme water insecurity. However, the natural systems underpinning water security are rapidly degrading. Global freshwater species populations have declined by more than 80% since 1970. In the Asia-Pacific, 244 major floods occurred between 2013 and 2023, accounting for 41% of the global total, alongside 104 droughts and more than 100 severe storms, highlighting rising vulnerability.
The region hosts 60% of the world’s population and faces compounding pressures from urbanization, groundwater depletion, river pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Across 50 economies tracked since 2013, most improved rural, urban, and economic water security, yet environmental water security stagnated or declined in 30 economies. Even among the top 10 overall performers, gains in ecosystem protection were negligible. As a result, despite infrastructure expansion, around 4 billion people globally remain exposed to poor water quality, ecosystem degradation, and disaster risks.
By 2040, the Asia-Pacific will require an estimated $4 trillion in water, sanitation, and hygiene investment, while current public spending covers only about 40%. Beyond the funding gap, how money is spent is critical. Nepal illustrates the limits of infrastructure alone: although 94% of rural households have basic water access, only 55% have piped connections and just 14% receive uncontaminated water. Without adequate maintenance, governance, and ecosystem protection, gray infrastructure yields diminishing returns. Integrating nature-based solutions with engineered systems is essential for long-term water security and resilience.