Though critical to all life – and to most economic activity – water has consistently been undervalued relative to the wide range of uses and benefitsit provides. However, with new valuation methods and frameworks being developed, governments, the private sector and financial institutions are beginning to make progress in recognizing the wider value of water. As these discussions advance, we believe it is important to shine a light on a paralleland equally critical challenge: the consistent failure of economies andsocieties to value rivers for their full spectrum of benefits.