Valuing Nutrients and Wastewater: Transforming hidden costs into investment opportunities

This policy brief addresses the critical global challenges posed by nutrient and wastewater mismanagement, which have significant negative impacts on economies, ecosystems, human health, and climate stability. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), essential nutrients for plant growth, are often overused or poorly managed, leading to water contamination, algal blooms, hypoxic zones, and poor air quality. Wastewater, if untreated or inadequately managed, exacerbates these problems and poses serious public health risks, including the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This brief is intended for stakeholders who shape policies across agriculture, water, transportation, industry, environment, and public health, especially policymakers, financial institutions, and technical experts. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes an ecosystem-based approach, recognizing that nutrient pollution and wastewater are deeply interconnected yet often addressed through separate lenses (e.g., agricultural productivity vs. pollution control). This brief bridges those silos and supports integrated, cross-sectoral action.