In the last few months, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has visited a groundwater retention site designed to improve drought resiliency in California, announced a commitment of $500 million to support water infrastructure and lead removal in Philadelphia, and more recently said the aspect of climate policy she is most passionate about is “water policy.”
If people don’t have water and cannot grow food where they live, they will leave and go somewhere else, Harris said in a recent speech, highlighting how access to water intersects with multiple other global challenges and could even spark conflict.
But that realization of how vital water is to success across other areas is not yet widespread among political decision-makers, according to sector experts. Having someone globally recognized at the helm of the issue such as Harris could make all the difference, said Alexandra Knezovich, managing director of engagement at The Toilet Board Coalition.