Co-creating knowledge, policy, and practice: a call to advance Water Policy Lab process

Numerous scientific reports have established that the water future of humanity and the entire earth system is at risk. Solving contested water problems require new ways of harnessing dialogues, reflections, empathy, research, and visions. Too often, water policies and practices tend to take shortcuts, missing out on the benefits these powerful social learning processes can bring towards water justice and sustainability. This editorial presents a Water Policy Lab approach to initiate dialogue among those who are concerned with this dual crisis—of escalating water insecurity and knowledge not being linked well to water policy and practice.