World Water Day 2020
WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT DO WE MEAN?
What do we mean when we say: ‘We cannot afford to wait. Climate policy makers must put water at the heart of action plans’?
Climate delay is almost as dangerous as climate denial. Every country in the world must work more quickly.
Extreme weather events are making water more scarce, more unpredictable, more polluted or all three.
Humans need water to survive, as do all the systems we rely on: sanitation, healthcare, education, business and industry.
Action plans to tackle climate change need to be integrated across different sectors and coordinated across borders. And they must have one thing in common: safe and sustainable water management.
Learn more in the UN-Water Policy Brief on Climate Change and Water.
What do we mean when we say: ‘Water can help fight climate change. There are sustainable, affordable and scalable water and sanitation solutions’?
Fighting climate change will open up vast opportunities for the economy in many areas. We need to embrace circular production systems and use water much more efficiently.
As the global population grows, so does the demand for water, which depletes natural resources and damages the environment in many places. Solutions include protecting carbon sinks such as oceans and wetlands, adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, and increasing the safe reuse of wastewater.
Water is our most precious resource – we must use it more responsibly. We must balance all of society’s water needs while ensuring the poorest people don’t get left behind.
What do we mean when we say: ‘Everyone has a role to play. It is surprising how many water actions anyone, anywhere can take to address climate change.’?
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Warnings are necessary. But fear will not get the job done.”
Yes, climate change can feel scary and daunting. But there is one simple step you can take immediately that will make a big difference: don’t waste water.
Thousands of people are logging their climate actions on the United Nation’s ActNow website. Check out all the easy lifestyle changes that will help save the planet.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
HOW TO STAY SAFE ON WORLD WATER DAY
FOR EVENTS STILL GOING AHEAD
We appreciate this is a difficult decision. Please follow your national authority’s advice and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines on keeping meetings and workplaces safe.
FOR EVENTS CANCELLED OR POSTPONED
We understand how disappointing it is to postpone or cancel a World Water Day event, but there are still ways to meet online or get together in smaller groups. We have assembled links to help you host an event online.
ALL HANDS ON WORLD WATER DAY
Hand hygiene is essential to containing the spread of COVID-19 and many other infectious diseases.
This World Water Day, and any other day, please remember to wash your hands regularly with water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub.
WHO has these step-by-step visual guidelines to handwashing.
In some parts of the world there is little or no awareness of good hygiene practices and their role in reducing the spread of disease. However, it is often the case that even when people do have knowledge of good hygiene behaviour, they lack the soap, safe water and washing facilities they need to make positive changes to protect themselves and their community.
This #WorldWaterDay, let’s show our best hand hygiene moments to fight #COVID19.
#SafeHands on #WorldWaterDay (but please don’t forget to turn off the tap!)
