Monthly Update: Water Bankruptcy, Ocean Protections, and Kenya Partnership Progress

JANUARY 2026

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ASSOCIATION

“Population is the core social thing now affecting everything, not only in my community, not only in Kenya, but worldwide.”

Sam- (left) Peer Educator Critical Conversations Association

This month the Research team visited our partners at the Critical Conversations Association (CCA) in Southern Kenya- a collective working to spark dialogue about population growth and its environmental pressures in the region.

Kenya's population has grown from around 6 million in 1950 to nearly 58 million today and is projected to reach 100 million by 2100. This growth intersects with pressing challenges: youth unemployment is roughly 38%, while climate change and land degradation are intensifying human-wildlife conflict across the country.

CCA takes an innovative approach to these complex issues, using art and transformative theatre to engage communities in exploring the connections between population trends, environmental change, and their collective futures. Their methods encourage participants to reflect on historical patterns and imagine alternative paths forward.

During the visit, our team met with peer educators to assess project progress, document successes, and identify ongoing challenges. We're continuing this partnership with a focus on analysing which engagement methods drive lasting community change.

Keep an eye out for our full report, which will be available on the website soon.

IN THE NEWS

A UN report revealed the world has shifted from being in a state of water crisis to one of ‘global water bankruptcy’. The report, released in January, shows many regions face persistent shortages that mean they’re unlikely to ever return to previous levels.

Over half the world's large lakes have declined since the early 1990s, while approximately 35% of natural wetlands have disappeared since 1970. This degradation makes restoration to baseline conditions effectively impossible.

This has an acute impact on human life: nearly three-quarters of the global population live in water-insecure or critically water-insecure countries. Four billion people experience severe water scarcity at least one month per year, with drought-related costs reaching an estimated $307 billion per year.

There is still the opportunity for intervention, but only if we treat this as an urgent call for structured recovery, prioritising protection of our remaining water sources and developing policies grounded in current realities rather than historical norms.

READ THE REPORT

Ocean Treaty takes Effect, but Population Pressures
Remain

After nearly two decades of negotiation, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement became legally binding on January 17th, establishing protections for marine life in the high seas and international seabed.

This area makes up over two-thirds of the ocean's surface and more than 90% of Earth's habitat by volume. It's the first legally binding ocean instrument to mandate inclusive governance, including provisions for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and gender balance.

81 nations have ratified the agreement, including major economies like China, Japan, France, and Brazil, committing to national-level implementation.

This represents meaningful progress in addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. However, continued population growth and the resource pressure it generates will continue to undermine these gains. To be truly effective, ocean protection must be paired with addressing the demographic factors that are straining our planetary systems.

Right: Our partner Daniel Cáceres Bartra speaking at the UN Oceans Conference last June about how population pressures are impacting marine life.

STILL TO COME

CPD59

We’re currently planning our presence at this year’s CPD in April. We’ve submitted our draft statement, with contributions from our partners CISLAC.

We're developing an event with new partners and key decision makers from Nigeria that aims to advance these critical conversations- watch this space for details.

A BIG THANK YOU

Thank you for your generosity over the festive season! Your support of our fundraising appeals, Christmas e-cards and eco-friendly Christmas ideas empowers our collective progress. Together we can achieve our vision, but we must work side by side; we would really appreciate it if you could make a donation to support our 2026 actions.

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