Celebrating World Water Day & the UN Water Conference 2023
World Water Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The celebration of this World Water Day coincides with the start of the UN 2023 Water Conference (March 22-24, New York) and shares the key objective to support internationally agreed water-related goals and targets – stated in the Water Action Decade – and to marshal action that will help transform how water is managed globally.
Accelerate change for Sustainable Development
As the eyes of our industry and the wider world look towards New York this week for the UN’s World Water Conference, a main outcome of the conference is to turn political momentum into tangible and ambitious action, combating the global water challenges and placing the aim for the SDG6 (Sustainable Development Goals) for clean water and sanitisation back on track.
With the world facing a water crisis, the situation is worsening every day. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and about 4.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation. In fact, water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population, and this figure is expected to increase in the coming years due to climate change and population growth.
Each year, World Water Day focuses on a specific theme with this year’s focus combining the UN Water Conference to champion ‘accelerated change’. Attentive to inspiring change while conscious of the current water crisis, the conference will concentrate on the following themes:
- Water for Health: Access to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.
- Water for Development: Valuing Water, Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Economic and Urban Development.
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation and Water Across the 2030 Agenda.
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan
Social responsibility: what can you do to help?
Inspired by an ancient story from the Quechua people in Peru, whereby a hummingbird fetches drops of water to help put out a great forest fire. Though the other animals laugh at her efforts, the bird replies, “I’m doing what I can”.
This fable illustrates our social responsibility and the important role we all have in taking action to conserve and protect freshwater resources. The World Water day is calling everyone to “be the change you want to see in the world”, celebrating all help, big or small, each drop of water saved helps towards achieving the essential sustainable development goals.
Some examples provided by the UN include:
- Save water by taking shorter showers and don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth, doing dishes, or preparing food
- Protect nature and use natural solutions to reduce the risk of flooding and stored water
- Eat local, seasonal food and look for products made with less water
Here at Borg & Overström, we believe that everyone should have the right to clean drinking water and are taking steps towards helping protect and provide clean water and sanitation. Presently working with The Water Project to help bring pure drinking water to underprivileged regions, we are proud to announce our latest partnership with the Made Blue Foundation, supporting and investing in water projects in countries where clean fresh water is needed the most.
Ultimately, water is an essential resource that is required for the survival of all living beings on this planet. It is a precious resource, vital for human health, agriculture, energy production, industry, and the environment. And so, it goes without saying that it is our duty to protect and preserve water and make it wholly accessible to everyone.
Get involved, learn more and engage in New York Water Week, and visit the UN World Water Day website to find out about an event near you.
Follow #worldwaterday on social media and help spread the word about this incredibly important issue.
