IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

WORLD WATER DAY

22nd March, 2023 Environment

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Context: Every year since 1993, 22 March is being marked as World Water Day.

Details:

THEME- Accelerating change:

  • World Water Day 2023 is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
  • Dysfunction throughout the water cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, and disaster to peace.
  • In 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda – a promise that by 2030 everyone will have safe water and sanitation.
  • The latest figures show that governments need to work four times faster on average to meet SDG 6 on time, but this is not a situation that can be solved by a single actor or group.
  • Water affects everyone, so we need everyone to take action.

UN Water Conference 2023:

  • The celebration of this World Water Day coincides with the start of the UN Water Conference 2023
  • The conference is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite the world around solutions to the water and sanitation crisis.
  • National governments and stakeholders from all levels of society will work together to make voluntary commitments to accelerate progress towards SDG 6 and other internationally agreed water-related goals and targets.
  • These voluntary commitments will form the Water Action Agenda, designed to deliver rapid, transformative change for the rest of this decade.
  • The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) is UN-Water's flagship report on water and sanitation issues.
  • Its 2023 edition, Partnerships and Cooperation for Water, will be launched on World Water Day and will make policy recommendations for decision-makers by offering best practices and in-depth analysis.
  • The report is published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water.

What is World Water Day?

  • Since 1993, World Water Day (March 22) has raised awareness and inspired solutions to the water and sanitation crisis every year.
  • It is about taking action to address the global water crisis of 2.2 billion people who live without access to safe water.
  • It is about compliance with UN measures coordinated by UN-Water.
  • The topic is pre-suggested by UN-Water.
  • It is in line with the UN's annual World Water Development Report, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN Water.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements is/are incorrect with reference to World Water Day?

a. Every year since 1993, 22 March is being marked as World Water Day.

b. UN's annual World Water Development Report is published by UN Water.

  1. Only a
  2. Only b
  3. Both a and b
  4. Neither a nor b

Answer: Option 2

 

https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day