UN-Water is the convener for World Water Day and selects the theme for each year in consultation with UN organizations that share an interest in that year's focus.[1] 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".[3]
In 2020, the theme was "Water and Climate Change".[4] Previous themes for the years 2016 to 2019 were "Water and Jobs",[5] "Why waste water?"[6] "Nature for Water",[7] and "Leaving no one behind".[8] World Water Day is celebrated around the world with a variety of events. These can be theatrical, musical orlobbying 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.[1]
Children presenting a puppet show for the "My School Toilet" contest inCagayan de Oro, Philippines, for World Water Day in 2010
World Water Day is aninternational observance day. The intention is to inspire people around the world to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference.[1] In 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, there was an additional focus onhand washing and hygiene.[9]
The World Water Day website announces events, activities and volunteer opportunities. In 2020, featured stories are about adapting to the water effects climate change and using water more efficiently.[11]
UN-Water coordinates activities with UN member organisations who share an interest in that year's theme. UN-Water mobilizes organizations of all kinds to action, whether globally or locally.[12]
Non-governmental organizations active in theWASH sector, such asUNICEF,WaterAid and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), use the day to raise public awareness and getmedia attention for water issues and inspire action.[13] Activities have included releasing publications and films, as well as organizing round tables, seminars and expositions.[3]
End Water Poverty, a globalcivil society coalition with 250 partner organizations, sponsors Water Action Month each year and offers an event-planning guidebook.[14][15]
More and more initiatives in schools and universities are educating people about the importance of conserving and managing water resources.[17][18][19] For example,Michigan State University held a contest for "best World Water Day poster" in 2017. Primary school children inthe Philippines participated in a "My School Toilet" contest in 2010.[20]
2003: Water for Future. Maintain and improve the quality and quantity of fresh water available to future generations.
2004: Water and Disasters. Weather, climate and water resources can have a devastating impact on socio-economic development and on the well-being of humankind.
2005:Water for Life Decade 2005–2015. The United Nations General Assembly at its 58th session in December 2003 agreed to proclaim the years 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, beginning with World Water Day, 22 March 2005.[22] The phrase Water for Life Decade was also used.
2006: Water and Culture. The theme drew the attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using, and celebrating water as there are cultural traditions across the world.
2007: Coping With Water Scarcity. Highlightedwater scarcity worldwide and the need for increased integration and cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels.[23]
World Water Day 2009: US soldiers cleaning a river in South Korea
2010: Clean Water for a Healthy World. Dedicated to water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management.[26]
2011: Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge. The aim was to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management.[27]
2012: Water and Food Security: The World is Thirsty Because We are Hungry. On the occasion of 2012 World Water Day, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called attention to the water-related challenges faced by civilians caught up in fighting and intense civil unrest.[28]
2013: International Year of Cooperation. In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. In reflection of this declaration, the 2013 World Water Day was dedicated to water cooperation.
The 2014 theme of Water and Energy emphasized the close linkages and interdependence of water and energy and brought attention to thewater-energy nexus.[29] About 8% of the energy generated globally is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers. Furthermore, generating and transmitting energy requires the use of water resources, particularly forhydroelectric,nuclear, andthermal energy sources.[citation needed]
The aim of that year's theme was to facilitate the development of policies and crosscutting frameworks that would bridge ministries and sectors. It was meant to lead the way to energy security and sustainable water use in agreen economy.[29]
Journalists from 11 countries in Asia met in Tokyo from 20 to 21 March 2014 to discuss the importance of water. The event included discussion panels on topics such as privatization of services, integration between water and energy and modernization of water services. The journalists also developed four joint stories and 20 individual story ideas for a network of Asian journalists writing on water (and energy) in social media.[30]
With the theme "Water and Sustainable Development", the year 2015 provided an important opportunity to consolidate and build upon the previous World Water Days to highlight water's role in the sustainable development agenda.[31] TheMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) were to have been achieved by 2015, so the year lent itself to discussions of the post-MDG period and aspirations for water and sustainable development. With the launch of theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), World Water Day gave specific emphasis to SDG 6, which calls for water and sanitation for all, by encouraging discussion of how SDG 6 could be achieved by 2030.[1]
The 2016 theme of "Better water, better jobs" highlighted the correlation between water and job creation, both directly and indirectly, by water sources around the globe.[5] The theme led to a collaboration with theInternational Labour Organization.[32] As water scarcity becomes more of a reality, industries heavily dependent on water like textiles and agriculture are at risk of increased costs, which threatens salaries and jobs. Increased costs may then be passed on to consumers.[citation needed]
The theme also highlights how an abundance of quality water can change people's jobs and lives for the better. The 2016 celebration created recognition for those working to improve water quality and availability, and the need for many to transition to other and better jobs.[5] Three out of four of jobs worldwide are water-dependent. Water shortages and lack of access may limit economic growth in the years to come, according to the 2016 United Nations World Water Development Report.[33]
In 2017, the theme was "Why Waste Water?" which was about reducing andreusing wastewater.[6] The theme was a play on words as it related to both the aspect of wastingwater and issues aroundwastewater, namelytreatment and reuse. Wastewater is a valuable resource to help achieve theSustainable Development Goal Number 6. One aspect of Target 6.3 is to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and also to increase the recycling and safe reuse of water across the globe. After appropriate treatment, wastewater can be used for a variety of purposes. Industry, for example, can reuse water incooling towers and agriculture can reuse water forirrigation.[34]
An example activity for 2017 was the Wikipediaedit-a-thon organized by members of theSustainable Sanitation Alliance on 19–21 March 2017. The purpose of the activity was to improve water andsanitation related content onWikipedia just ahead of World Water Day. The goal was to improve the quantity and quality of sanitation information available on Wikipedia for the use of teachers, journalists and the general public.[35]
The theme in 2018 explored how nature can be used to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century.[7] This could be in the form ofnature-based solutions to water-related challenges. For example, reducingfloods,droughts,water pollution and protectingecosystems could be solved using natural means, which nature uses, rather than man-made approaches. Restoringwetlands, implementingconstructed wetlands,green roofs,green infrastructure, planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, are some examples. Each of these use natural processes to rebalance thewater cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.[36]
The theme of 2019 was about tackling thewater crisis by addressing the reasons why so many people are being left behind.Marginalized groups – women, children,refugees,indigenous peoples,disabled people – are often overlooked, and may face discrimination, as they try to access safe water.[8][37] UN-Water asserts that "water services must meet the needs of marginalized groups and their voices must be heard in decision-making processes".[38]
The theme of World Water Day 2020 was about water andclimate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. UN-Water states that "adapting to the water effects of climate change will protect health and save lives". Also, using water more efficiently will reducegreenhouse gas emissions.[4] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 campaign also promoted messages ofhand washing andhygiene and gave guidance on staying safe while supporting the campaign.
The theme for 2021 was "Valuing Water".[39] People were invited to join a global conversation to "tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water" on social media using the hashtag "#Water2me".[40] The campaign looked beyond the issue of pricing, asking the public: "How is water important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, your local environment?".[3]
The theme for 2022 was "Groundwater, Making theInvisible Visible".[41]Groundwater is the largest source offreshwater on earth. However, being stored underneath the surface, it is often overlooked. Therefore, IGRAC and UNESCO-IHP initiated a World Water Day exclusively focused on this resource. The campaign was built around three main groundwater-related topics/issues, namely: (1) The invisible ingredient in food, (2) a resource without borders, and (3) a finite supply. The campaign also built around other products and events in this so-called 'year of groundwater'. The groundwater catalogue was launched during theWorld Water Forum inDakar, Senegal. The final event related to the campaign was the Groundwater Summit 2022,[42] held in Paris, France.
The theme for 2023 was "accelerating change". Dysfunction throughout thewater cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, and disasters to peace.[citation needed]
The theme for 2024 was "Water for Peace". The key messages read, "Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries.", "Prosperity and peace rely on water. As nations manage climate change, mass migration and political unrest, they must put water cooperation at the heart of their plans.", and "Water can lead us out of crisis. We can foster harmony between communities and countries by uniting around the fair and sustainable use of water – from United Nations conventions at the international level, to actions at the local level."
The theme for 2025 is "Glacier Preservation".Glacier are critical to life - theirmeltwater is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production and healthy ecosystems.[43]
Every year, World Water Day campaign messages and publications reach millions of people throughsocial media, dedicated websites and other channels. In 2016, the UN-Water annual report stated that social media engagement (hashtag #WorldWaterDay), had a maximum potential reach of 1.6 billion people worldwide in 2016.[44]: 21 Over 500 events in 100 countries were registered on the World Water Day website that year.[44]: 21
In 2017, 700 individual events were held in 110 countries and there were over 500,000 authors on social media using the hashtag '#WorldWaterDay'.[45] In 2018, there was a 25% increase in both the number of website visits and the maximum potential reach on social media largely due to celebrity support and a coordinated communications approach across theUnited Nations.[46]
In 2021, the World Water Day public campaign invited people to take part in a social media conversation (#Water2me) about the value of water.[47] More than 6,000 public conversations took place in over 140 countries on social media from November 2020 to mid-February 2021.[48]
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