World Water Day 2024
World Water Day 2024: Its history, theme and significance amid water crisis
World Water Day, celebrated every year on 22 March, is an opportunity to realize the importance of freshwater, especially this year amid the ongoing water crisis
World Water Day, celebrated every year on March 22, is an opportunity to realize the importance of freshwater, especially this year amid the ongoing water crisis in Bengaluru. The tech hub is facing acute water shortage due to failed monsoon and drying up groundwater resources
History
In 1992 the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro eyed the first conventional offer of World Water Day under Agenda 21 The United Nations General Assembly espoused a conclusion in December 1992 declaring March 22 as World Water Day
Importance
The United Nations (UN) observes this day to advocate sustainable management of freshwater resources. On this day, every year the major United Nations report on water and sanitation is launched.
Subject
This year's theme is 'Water for Prosperity and Peace'. Thus, the 2024 edition of the UN's flagship World Water Development Report (WWDR) report will explore this topic and will be released today. The theme changes every year, but the central focus remains on topics related to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), in line with the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 6
Highlights of UN World Water Day 2024 message
Water can create peace or provoke conflict – tensions arise in societies when water is scarce or polluted or when people struggle to access water. Only with cooperation can we balance everyone's water needs.
Prosperity and peace depend on water – large-scale migration and political unrest make water cooperation a central part of how nations manage climate change.
Water can get us out of trouble – by uniting for the judicious and sustainable use of water, harmony can be fostered between communities and countries. By reaching this goal at the international level through UN conventions and implementing actions at the local level, we can overcome the water crisis peacefully.