World Water Day is an annual United Nations (UN) commemoration day held on March 22 that emphasizes the importance of clean water. The day is used to advocate for the conservation of freshwater resources. Each year’s theme focuses on topics related to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), which corresponds to the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Every year around World Water Day, the UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released.
Following the recommendation of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the United Nations designated March 22nd as World Water Day for the first time in 1993. Every year, World Water Day focuses on different aspects of water management and conservation. These themes frequently refer to current water-related issues and challenges, such as clean water access, water scarcity, water pollution, and the impact of climate change on water resources.
UN-Water organizes World Water Day and chooses the theme each year in collaboration with UN organizations that have an interest in the year’s focus. The theme for 2021 was “Valuing Water” and the public campaign invited people to join a global conversation on social media to “tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water”.
World Water Day provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to participate in activities and initiatives that promote water stewardship, advocate for better water management practices, and work to ensure clean and safe water sources for all. This day is critical in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
In 2020, the theme was “Water and Climate Change”. Previous themes for the years 2016 to 2019 were “Water and Jobs”, “Why waste water?” “Nature for Water”, and “Leaving no one behind”. World Water Day is celebrated around the world with a variety of events. These can be theatrical, musical or lobbying in nature. The day can also include campaigns to raise money for water projects. The first World Water Day, designated by the United Nations, was in 1993.
Previous World Water Day commemorations have included themes such as “Water and Sustainable Development” (2015), “Water and Jobs” (2016), “Nature for Water” (2018), and “Water and Climate Change” (2020).
World Water Day activities can include educational campaigns, seminars, workshops, art exhibitions, and community events centered on water issues. It serves as a reminder of the importance of water conservation and the need to address water challenges in order to protect the environment and ensure future generations’ well-being.
