Like every year, on Monday, 22 March people across the globe will celebrate World Water Day. This year World Water Day, originally thought up by the United Nations (UN) and coordinated by UN-Water and the ILO (International Labor Organization), is focusing on the value of water. The purpose is to raise global awareness about the importance of water, what it means to people and how we can better protect this vital resource.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Water is indispensable for all, which is why all of us need to get involved in its conservation. This year, the global campaign Be the change urges people to take measures in their own lives to change the way in which they use, consume and manage water.
Such promises from individuals and communities will contribute to a Water Action Agenda which will also comprise bigger commitments from governments, corporations, organizations, institutions and coalitions.
It is vital that international commitments are made with respect to water use and sanitation. This is why World Water Day coincides with the first day of the UN 2023 Water Conference (22-24 March, New York).
The conference forms a unique opportunity to find solutions to the current water and sanitation crisis. Governments and communities interested in the theme will gather at the event to assume voluntary commitments to speed up progress with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and other internationally-agreed goals related to water.
How did World Water Day come about?
This year, we celebrate the twentieth edition of World Water Day, but how did the idea of organising this international event come about? It was in 1992, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The organisers agreed unanimously to dedicate this day to raising public awareness of how important water is to people all around the world.
The purpose of this celebration is to raise awareness of the global water crisis and the need to find ways to address it so that we can reach Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.