Peter Gleick

Dr. Peter Gleick is a hydrologist and climatologist recognized for his expertise in freshwater resources and climate change. Gleick has focused his career on freshwater sustainability, the human right to water, and water conflicts. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Yale University and both a Master of Science and a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, Gleick was among the first to identify the impacts of climate change on water systems, including the vulnerability of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, a critical water source for central California.

Gleick co-founded the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California, an organization dedicated to developing and advancing solutions to global water challenges. His work has contributed to shifting the field of water management from a purely engineering perspective to one that incorporates sustainability, human rights, and integrated approaches. Gleick introduced the concept of the soft path for water, developed the idea of peak water, and advocated for a local water movement. He conducted the first analysis of climate change impacts on water resources and produced early comprehensive research on water and conflict. Gleick also defined basic human needs for water and the human right to water, work that has informed United Nations policies. He created and maintains the Water Conflict Chronology, an online database documenting thousands of instances where water has been a cause, victim, or weapon of violence.

Gleick is the author and editor of numerous scientific papers and books, including "The World's Water" series, "Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water," and "A 21st Century U.S. Water Policy." "Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water" received the Nautilus Book Award. His book "The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future" is recognized as a significant contribution to environmental literature. Gleick is also the author of "When the Well is Dry: How Water Fuels Violence and Shapes Peace."

Gleick has appeared in a range of water-related documentary films, including Jim Thebaut's "Running Dry," Irena Salina's "Flow: For Love of Water," the ABC News documentary "Earth2100," and Jessica Yu and Elise Pearlstein's "Last Call at the Oasis" from Participant Media. He is a frequent source for media coverage on water and climate issues, with appearances on CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, NPR, and in publications such as The New Yorker.

Gleick's work has been recognized with several honors, including a MacArthur Fellowship, election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the International Water Resources Association Ven Te Chow Memorial Award and, along with the Pacific Institute, the first U.S. Water Prize. Gleick also received the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Wired Magazine named Gleick as one of 15 people the next president should listen to. His research, writing, and public engagement have established him as a leading voice on global water and climate challenges.