21 March 2020

Introduction:

World Water Day is being celebrated on 22 March since 1993.The day is celebrated by United Nations along with many other organisations around the world. The main aim is to spread awareness about the importance of fresh water.

Theme of World Water Day for year 2020:- Water and Climate Change-

The key message this year is– Water and Climate Change are inextricably linked.

The Importance of Water

• 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.
• 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
• The International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere 2013,
•  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.

Do 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%