Children carrying a water container in Jowhar, Somalia (2013). UN/Tobin Jones.
Water: Our Common Wealth
Water and Soap Against the Coronavirus
Hand hygiene is essential to containing the spread of COVID-19, as well as other infectious diseases. If you have access to soap and water, follow the steps and join the #SafeHands campaign. For your community and for you.
On this World Water Day, and any other day, remember to wash your hands regularly with water and soap or with an alcohol-based hand gel. See UNICEF’s guidelines on handwashing and UN Water’s fast facts on handwashing/ handhygiene.
This #WorldWaterDay, let’s show our best hand hygiene moments to fight #COVID19.
SafeHands on #WorldWaterDay
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The Importance of Water
World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater.
World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Water and Climate Change
World Water Day 2020 is about water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. The campaign shows how our use of water will help reduce floods, droughts, scarcity and pollution, and will help fight climate change itself.
By adapting to the water effects of climate change, we will protect health and save lives. And, by using water more efficiently, we will reduce greenhouse gases.
Our key messages for this day are clear:
We cannot afford to wait. Climate policy makers must put water at the heart of action plans.
Water can help fight climate change. There are sustainable, affordable and scalable water and sanitation solutions.
Everyone has a role to play. In our daily lives, there are surprisingly easy steps we can all take to address climate change.
History of the Day
The idea for this international day goes back to 1992, the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place. That same year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.
Later on, other celebrations and events were added. For instance, the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere 2013, and the current International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028. These observances serve to reaffirm that water and sanitation measures are key to poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
Did you know?
Today, 1 in 3 people live without safe drinking water.
By 2050, up to 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year.
Climate-resilient water supply and sanitation could save the lives of more than 360,000 infants every year.
If we limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, we could cut climate-induced water stress by up to 50%.
Extreme weather has caused more than 90% of major disasters over the last decade.
By 2040, global energy demand is projected to increase by over 25% and water demand is expected to increase by more than 50%.
I call on all stakeholders to increase climate action and invest in robust adaptation measures for water sustainability. By limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world will be in a much better position to manage and solve the water crisis that we all face.
