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Today more than 2 billion people are forced to drink unsafe water, and 4.5 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services. Growing populations, increasing climate variability, mismanagement of water supplies and pollution are all contributing to increased water scarcity and stress.
The water crisis has many dimensions. 40 percent of the world’s people are affected by water scarcity, with as many as 700 million people at risk of being displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030. More than two billion people are compelled to drink unsafe water, and more than 4.5 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services.
Women and girls suffer disproportionately when water and sanitation are lacking, affecting health and often restricting work and education opportunities. 80 percent of wastewater is discharged untreated into the environment, and water-related disasters account for 90 percent of the 1,000 most devastating natural disasters since 1990.
Recognizing the growing challenge, the United Nations will promote water and its crucial role in achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 6, at several prominent events this month:
- 14 March: The Secretary-General will receive a report of the High-Level Panel on Water — 12 former and current Heads of State, and Government convened by the UN and the World Bank Group — that sets out recommendations to redefine how water resources should be understood, valued and effectively managed.
- 19 March: The World Water Forum starts in Brasilia. The President of the UN General Assembly and several UN agency heads will be present at the Forum.
- 22 March: The UN General Assembly will launch the Water Action Decade to mobilize action that will help transform how we manage water. The Decade aims to re-energize the commitment of the international community to tackle the issue of water as well as draw its attention to the approaching crisis. There will be a high-level event in the General Assembly Hall on this day with prominent leaders speaking on behalf of water action, including the President of Tajikistan and the musician Pitbull.
- 22 March: The 25th anniversary of World Water Day, will focus this year on the solutions we can find in nature to help solve our water scarcity problems.
“Making Every Drop Count: An Agenda for Water Action” presents many recommendations as part of an Outcome Report from the Panel, which was convened in January 2016 by the United Nations Secretary-General and the World Bank Group President.
Join us in advocating water actions by using the hashtag #EveryDrop on social media.
More information about:
High Level Panel on Wate
World Water Day
Water Action Decade
Source: UN DPI, UNDESA