Global shifts in water and sanitation will have a profound effect on societies and economies. Other transformations are shaping these shifts, including where people live, what they expect from governments and markets, their productive and polluting activities, how they innovate and whether they pursue conflict or peace.

Understanding these shifts and their interplay is important to achieving all of the Sustainable Developments Goals, not just goal six on water and sanitation.

In this paper we introduce ten global shifts that, in our analysis, present both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development, to 2030 and beyond.

This paper accompanies the briefing 10 things to know about the future of water and sanitation.