The first Earthwatch lecture for 2015 will investigate the global freshwater challenge from conservation, science and business standpoints, and help you find out how you can take action to resolve it.

Taking place on Wednesday 17 February at London's Royal Geographical Society, UK, this free public event will bring together industry and academics to share perspectives on freshwater issues.

Fresh water is essential. We need it to survive, and our landscapes need it to flourish. Yet a growing population, expanding cities, intensive agriculture, industrial development, and increasing consumer demands are contributing to freshwater quality degradation everywhere.

Nearly 800 million people in the world are without access to safe water, while investors, companies and governments are increasingly recognising the risks of water stress in our modern global economy.

Water has the potential to unlock economic growth as well as changing the lives of individuals and transforming the livelihoods of communities. It’s thought that providing universal access to safe water and sanitation could deliver a potential economic gain of US$220 billion a year.

Find out what happened at our previous events at the Royal Geographical Society:

Are we ready for a wilderness? The Earthwatch debate

Palm reading: Debating the future of palm oil

Living between Desert and Development in Oman

The Earthwatch lecture series is kindly supported by: