published by: Nibandh Vinod
Last update: March 22, 2024, 06:05 IST
The theme of World Water Day 2024 is Water for Peace. (Image: Shutterstock)
World Water Day is used to inspire individuals, elected officials, other government actors and policymakers to take a proactive stance in the face of the water and sanitation crisis unfolding around the world.
Only 2.5 percent of Earth's water is classified as fresh. The water crisis is a big problem in India according to the Niti Aayog report of 2019. Despite being home to 17 percent of the world's population, India has only 4 percent of the planet's freshwater resources. World Water Day, observed every March 22, serves to highlight the critical importance of fresh water. Below, we look at the theme of this year's event, its history, and its importance. Additionally, implementing five simple steps to conserve water can significantly address this pressing issue.
World Water Day 2024 Theme
The theme of this year's World Water Day campaign is “Water for Peace.” Freshwater scarcity often causes conflicts between individuals, communities and even nations. Surprisingly, according to the United Nations (UN), only 24 out of 153 countries have established water-sharing agreements. To mitigate potential conflicts and ensure access to basic water needs across borders, water conservation is imperative. This effort aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to guarantee water and sanitation for all by 2030.
World Water Day: History
In 1992, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, the proposal to designate an annual day for water conservation was introduced as part of UN Agenda 21.
Later, in December of the same year, the UN General Assembly formally accepted this proposal through its resolution A/RES/47/193, thus establishing March 22 as World Water Day. The inaugural celebration of World Water Day took place the following year, with the theme “Caring for our water resources is everyone's business.”
World Water Day: Importance
Observed by the United Nations and coordinated by UN-Water, World Water Day raises awareness of key issues related to water use. The day is used to inspire individuals, elected officials, other government actors and policymakers to take a proactive stance in the face of the water and sanitation crisis unfolding around the world.
5 steps to conserve water
- Turn off the faucet while you wash the dishes instead of leaving it on continuously.
- Turn off faucets tightly when not in use, especially while brushing your teeth or making foam.
- Periodically check and repair any leaks in toilet cisterns or wash tanks to avoid wasting water.
- Keep showers short and consider turning off the shower head while applying soap or shampoo to conserve water.
- Reuse standing water for activities such as watering plants or flushing toilets to minimize waste.
