Water for Change: Scotland's Drive Toward Collaborative Water Governance
On March 22, 2025, Scotland celebrated World Water Day (WWD) with renewed energy and vision. Led by the Hydro Nation International Centre (HNIC), in partnership with the Strategic Research Programme (SRP) including the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) and the Hydro Nation Scholars Programme (HNSP) and supported by SEFARI Gateway, this year’s celebration spotlighted how collaboration can turn science into action.
A Central Hub for Water Innovation
Launched under the theme “Water for Change: Connecting Scotland’s Water Community for Science-Policy Dialogue,” the WWD digital hub served as a central platform to showcase Scotland’s leadership in sustainable water governance, emphasising water’s critical role as a catalyst for environmental, social, and policy transformation.
Over the past seven years, with strong support from the Scottish Government, the HNIC’s World Water Day events have built a strong tradition of fostering evidence-based decision-making. However, 2025 marks a pivotal shift, moving from recognising the need for collaboration to actively demonstrating how effective collaboration can drive positive impactful change.
Why Water for Change Matters
Scotland’s efforts demonstrate that water can drive transformative change across three key areas:
- Climate Resilience – Enabling adaptation to the growing impacts of climate change.
- Water Security – Safeguarding our most vital resource for people, communities and industries.
- Science-Policy Integration – Using research to craft forward-thinking, and practical policies
Currently, 87% of Scottish water bodies are in good or better condition, reflecting a healthy environment supported by effective governance and the implementation of good practices. Yet as highlighted from previous WWD discussions, achieving a sustainable, resilient water future demands deeper and smarter collaboration between all interested sectors.
This year’s key message developed from previous WWD conversations that it is not enough to only recognise the need to collaborate, it is vital to collaborate effectively, with integrated, adaptable solutions that turn science into direct positive action.
World Water Day 2025 Hub: A Digital Showcase of Scotland’s Water Excellence
The World Water Day 2025 hub hosted on HNIC’s website features a rich array of resources:
- Virtual Tours: spotlighting flagship initiatives such as the Hydro Nation Scholars Programme (HNSP), CREW, the One Health Breakthrough Partnership (OHBP), and the FORTH2O Policy Innovation Partnership, showcasing practical models of science-policy integration.
- Expert Articles and Blogs: sharing innovative research work and strategies for sustainable water management.
- Event Calendar: highlighting WWD-related activities and celebrations across Scotland.
These assets illustrate how Scotland’s water sector continues to innovate, collaborate, and lead setting an example domestically and internationally.
From Dialogue to Action: Building on a Legacy
- WWD 2025 builds on momentum from 2023 and 2024, where Scotland shifted from talking about collaboration to actively demonstrating it: From Recognition to Action: Where WWD 2023 focused on the importance of collaboration, 2025 emphasises the application of science-informed strategies to influence real-world outcomes.
- WWD 2024: Water as a Catalyst for Change: Scotland’s approach integrates water governance with broader sustainability goals, ensuring that policy and decision-making is informed by interdisciplinary research and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
- Bridging Sectors for a Just Transition: Building on WWD 2024’s discussions on balancing water demands, this year’s activities demonstrate how coordinated sectoral opportunities can support a fair, climate-resilient transition.
Key contributions from the Hydro Nation Scholars Impact Report, CREW research, the FORTH2O project, and policy innovations such as the OHBP and Malawi Scotland Regulatory Partnership (MSRP) exemplify how Scotland is effectively bridging science, policy and practice.
A Clear Call: Innovate. Adapt. Cooperate
With climate change accelerating, Scotland leads by example. WWD 2025 issues a clear message:
"Water for Change" is more than a theme—it's a movement.
Through dynamic collaboration across academia, policy, and industry, Scotland is poised to set a global benchmark in water management and climate resilience. "Water for Change" is not only a theme, it also signals an evolution from dialogue to impactful, sustainable action. The WWD 2025 hub also stands as a testament to how digital platforms can amplify collective action and drive meaningful change in water stewardship.
Explore the World Water Day 2025 Hub
Acknowledgements
This blog was prepared by Maricela Blair and Rachel Helliwell, with input from Nikki Dodd and Lorna Dawson. Contributions to the World Water Day 2025 hub from the Hydro Nation International Centre (HNIC), CREW, and members of Scotland’s wider water community are gratefully acknowledged. Their insights and dedication to advancing collaborative water governance continue to inspire and inform this work.
Lead image: Loch surrounded by green rolling hills (photo credit - Tullia Dean)