The course begins with an overview of the role of water as a key component of planetary systems, the many
ways humans use water and the cumulative effects of human activity on Earth’s freshwater supply. It describes
the link between water and biodiversity and the services that freshwater ecosystems provide, with a particular
focus on wetlands. It considers how this finite resource is distributed across the planet, moves on to the effect of
water quality on human health and concludes with an overview of the key challenges that affect water
management on a global scale.