November 02, 2024 16:43 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Andhra Pradesh: Three-year-old girl raped and murdered by relative in Tirupati | Two terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in Kashmir's Anantnag | Bengal: 5-year-old girl raped and murdered in Alipurduar, accused beaten to death by angry villagers | Kashmir: Encounter breaks out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagar | Mumbai Police initiates extradition process to bring back Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi from US
Recognize ‘true value’ of water, UN urges, marking World Day
Water
Image: World Bank/Arne Hoel

Recognize ‘true value’ of water, UN urges, marking World Day

| @indiablooms | 23 Mar 2021, 06:29 pm

New York: The UN is marking World Water Day on Monday with a global conversation on how people value the lifegiving resource in different parts of the world, according to local needs.

“For me, water means protection”, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message.

Access to water is a defence against ill-health, indignity and the challenges derived from the climate crisis.

He explained that a well-managed water cycle, encompassing drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, wastewater, transboundary governance and other key issues, “means defence against ill-health and indignity”.

It means a “response to challenges from a changing climate and increasing global demand”, Mr. Guterres added.

The fundamental question has been asked to understand water’s “true value” to better protect the vital resource for every person and every purpose, amid a growing global water crisis.

Today, about one in three people lack access to safe drinking water, and there are fears that by 2050, as many as 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year.

Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2040, global water demand could increase by more than 50 per cent, putting additional stress on the vital resource.

Preventing waste and misuse

According to a new UN report, one of the key reasons for water waste and misuse is the inability to recognize the value of water.

“Recognizing, measuring and expressing water’s worth, and incorporating it into decision-making, are fundamental to achieving sustainable and equitable water resources management”, the report, Valuing Water, highlighted.

Launched in conjunction with World Water Day, the report also offers best practices and in-depth analyses to stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water and related sectors.

Water and sustainable development

In his message, Mr. Guterres underscored that water and sustainable development are intricately linked.

“There is no aspect of sustainable development that does not fundamentally rely upon it”, he said.

Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, is also one of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which countries have committed to achieve by 2030. While progress is being made towards this Goal, the pace needs to quadruple.

“Chronic under-investment in water and sanitation disadvantages and harms vast numbers of people. This is unacceptable”, the UN chief said, calling on everyone to “commit to intensifying efforts to truly valuing water so all may have equitable access to this most precious resource.”

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.