UNWWDR 2023 Report

March 24, 2023

Recently, ‘United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: partnerships and cooperation for water’, was released by UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on behalf of UN-Water.
It is published annually on World Water Day (WWD), celebrated on 22^nd
- Theme of WWD 2023 is “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”.
Coordinated by UN-Water since 1993, WWD raises awareness and inspires action to tackle water and sanitation crisis.
Major findings of report
- At current rates, progress towards all targets of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all) is off-track.
- Globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking water and 6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation.
- The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from one-third (2016) to nearly half of the global urban population in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected.
- Water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate through to 2050.
- 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; in particular, northeast China, as well as India and Pakistan.
Recommendations
- Education and Capacity Development for sustainable and equitable water management practices.
- Involvement of women in delivery of targeted water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and broader water-related goals.