The United Nations(UN)’s World Water Day(WWD) is annually observed across the globe on 22nd March to create awareness and inspire action against the water and sanitation crisis across the globe.
- The day also celebrates water and creates awareness about the 2 billion people who are currently living without access to safe water.
WWD 2023 observed on 22nd March 2023 focuses on Accelerating Change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
Background:
i.The idea of World Water Day was first discussed during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/47/193 in December 1992 and proclaimed the 22nd March of every year as the World Water Day.
iii.The first ever World Water Day was observed on 22nd March 1993.
Global Campaign of WWD 2023:
The global campaign of WWD 2023 “Be the Change you want to see in the World” encourages people to take action in their own lives to change the way they use, consume and manage water.
UN 2023 Water Conference:
i.The celebration of WWD 2023 coincides with the UN 2023 Water Conference held from 22nd to 24th March 2023 in New York, The United States of America (USA).
ii.This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite the world around solving the water and sanitation crisis.
Stakeholders from all levels of society and governments will collaborate to make voluntary commitments to accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030 and other internationally-agreed water-related goals and targets.
- These voluntary commitments will form the Water Action Agenda, which is designed to deliver rapid, transformative change in the remainder of this decade.
UN WWDR 2023: 26% of the population lacks clean drinking water & 46% lacks sanitation
The 2023 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) titled “Partnerships and Cooperation for Water”, the flagship report of UN-Water was released ahead of the UN 2023 Water Conference. According to the report, Globally, 26% of the population(2 billion people) do not have safe drinking water and 46% (3.6 billion) of the population lack access to safely managed sanitation.
- The report focuses on partnerships to realize human rights to water and sanitation.
- The report offers recommendations to decision-makers by offering best practices and in-depth analyses.
- The WWDR is published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.
Key Points:
i.Around 2 to 3 billion people across the globe experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity.
ii.The report states that the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7 or 2.4 billion in 2050.
iii.So far, more than 85% of natural wetland areas are lost and 75% of the land surface is significantly altered, reducing the ability of the ecosystem to support sustainable water.
India’s Initiatives/Programmes for Water Conservation:
India been implementing a number of schemes and programmes like Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Namami Gange, National Aquifer Mapping and Management programme (NAQUIM) for conservation of water and to increase the level of groundwater.
Note:
i.As on 21st March 2023, more than 11.49 crore households across India have been provided tap water connections and over 1.53 lakh villages have become Har Ghar Jal.
ii.Over 11 crore Individual Household Latrines have been built across all States and Union Territories (UTs) since October 2014.
