Today is World Water Day (WWD)! Observed annually on 22 March, World Water Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about water and to support progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6): ensuring access to water and sanitation for all by 2030. Did you know that a staggering 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water (1)? This year, the theme of WWD is ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’, emphasising that public health, prosperity and peace are deeply intertwined with a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle. Recognising that more than 3 billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national borders, yet only 24 countries have cooperation agreements for all their shared water (1), the aim of WWD 2024 is to highlight the importance of balancing everyone's water needs to create a more peaceful world. It also acknowledges the dual nature of water—as both a tool for peace when communities and countries cooperate, and as a potential source of conflict when access is denied or unfairly shared.
The freshwater system is interlinked with the marine system. Polluted freshwater sources in rivers and lakes, as well as underground water flow, can lead to marine pollution, impacting marine ecosystems and biodiversity as well as communities who depend on the ocean. Changes in freshwater availability due to factors including climate change can pose significant impact on coastal and marine habitats. Therefore, international cooperation and effective management of freshwater resources is crucial not only for human health and well-being but also for the health of marine environments that are also essential for human health. The map layer of rivers and lakes included in the Map of the Week shows how rivers and the ocean are intrinsically connected. Zoom in on the map and locate the closest river and/or lake around you!
Speaking of cooperation, have you heard of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR)? Comprising around 150 regions from 24 countries from the European Union and beyond, the CPMR is organised in geographical commissions to address common challenges and promote the interests of its member regions in each of the major sea basins, including the Atlantic Arc, Balkan and Black Sea, Islands, Inter-Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, and North Sea. By advocating for an integrated maritime policy, greater regionalisation of the common fisheries policies and a maritime safety system, the CPMR underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring the sustainable management of water resources and fostering peace among communities and nations. Explore the Map of the Week to learn more about the member regions of the CPMR.
Wish to learn more about Leveraging Water for Peace, freshwater status, and global and regional cooperation efforts towards sustainable water management?
- Read the United Nations (UN) World Water Development Report 2024 titled ‘Water for Peace and Prosperity’ launched today and published by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP);
- Explore the UN-Water SDG 6 Data Portal to learn about the 11 global indicators to track progress towards SDG 6;
- Read the latest developments related to the Ocean Decade, the global initiative dedicated to advancing transformative ocean science for sustainable development and fostering international cooperation to address pressing ocean-related challenges;
- Check out the WISE-Freshwater platform for information and data on the state of Europe’s rivers, lakes, groundwaters, on the pressures affecting them, on the measures and actions taken to protect and conserve the aquatic environment;
- Follow the Save the Baltic Sea expedition, a collaborative effort targeted to catalyse action for reducing marine pollution in 8 Baltic Sea countries;
- Learn about the work of the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.
The data in this map are provided by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC).