The theme for this year is ‘Nature for Water’ – highlighting nature-based solutions (NBS) to 21st century water challenges.
World Water Day hopes to convey that NBS, such as planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains and restoring wetlands, is a sustainable and cost-effective way to help rebalance the water cycle, reduce the effects of climate change and improve human health and livelihoods.
The related Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits the world to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. It includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution.
The quantity and quality of water available for human consumption worldwide is limited due to damaged ecosystems. At present, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home.
By 2050, the world’s population will have grown by an estimated 2 billion people and global water demand could be up to 30% higher than today.
At present, around 1.9 billion people live in potentially severely water-scarce areas. By 2050, this figure could jump to around 3 billion people.