World Water Day will be held on the 22nd of March 2021. It is an annual United Nations Observance focusing on the importance of freshwater, coordinated by UN-Water and led by one or more UN-Water Members and Partners with a related mandate.

A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. It is also an opportunity to draw attention to the contribution of hydropower taking action to tackle the global water crisis. World Water Day aims at raising awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis.

The 2021 theme 

The theme for the year 2021 is valuing water. Economic development and a growing global population mean agriculture and industry are getting thirstier and water-intensive energy generation is rising to meet demand. Climate change is making water more erratic and contributing to pollution.

As societies balance the demands on water resources, many people’s interests are not being taken into account. How we value water determines how water is managed and shared. The value of water is much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource.

SDG 6 is to ensure water and sanitation for all. Without a comprehensive understanding of water’s true, multidimensional value, we will be unable to safeguard this critical resource for the benefit of everyone.

Find more at www.worldwaterday.org.