World Water Day 2024: Check Date, Theme, History and Significance, Here

Mar 22, 2024, 12:57 IST

World Water Day 2024: It is observed on March 22 globally to raise awareness about the importance of water and its conservation. Check below for this year's theme, history, and significance of the day.  

World Water Day
World Water Day

World Water Day 2024: Since 1993, it has been celebrated on March 22 to highlight the importance of freshwater. According to the UN, around 2.2 billion people are living without access to safe water. The day focuses on taking action to tackle the global water crisis. According to the UN, Asia and the Pacific region have the lowest per capita availability of water in the world, with groundwater use in the region expected to increase by 30% by 2050. World Water Day focuses on the crucial connection between water cooperation and global harmony. As billions grapple with water scarcity and pollution, World Water Day compels us to explore solutions, foster collaboration, and work towards a more water-secure future for all.

World Water Day is observed every year on 22nd March all over the world. It focuses attention on the importance of water and how to preserve it. As we know that water is essential for life, without water we can't survive. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. All plants and animals need water to survive. If there was no water there would be no life on earth.

Around 40 percent of all the water used for irrigation comes from aquifers. Also, almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater. 

World Water Day 2024: Theme

The theme for World Water Day 2024 is  "Water for Peace". This theme highlights the importance of cooperation in managing water resources and how working together can contribute to global harmony. Water scarcity and pollution can be sources of tension, while cooperation on managing shared water resources can promote peace and stability. The UN mentions: "The theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’. When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges. We must act upon the realization that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over – it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life. This World Water Day, we all need to unite around water and use water for peace, laying the foundations of a more stable and prosperous tomorrow."

The theme for World Water Day 2023 was ‘Accelerate Change.’According to World Water Organization, “This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. You and your family, school, and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume, and manage water in your lives. Your commitments will be added to the Water Action Agenda, to be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference, the first event of its kind in nearly 50 years. This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the world to unite around water.

The theme of World Water Day 2022 is "Groundwater: Making The Invisible Visible ". The theme was proposed by IGRAC. Groundwater is a crucial resource that provides almost half of all drinkable water across the world, about 40% for irrigated agriculture and around 1/3 of the water required for the industry. Groundwater is important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, including wetlands, and rivers.

The theme of World Water Day 2021 was "Valuing Water". It is necessary to understand the importance of water and its use. Water has extensive and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, etc.

The Theme of World Water Day 2019 was "Leaving no one behind" and of 2018 was "Nature for Water" or “Nature-based Solutions for Water”. Mainly focusing attention on the importance of water. This theme adapts the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit. Let us tell you that Goal 6 of Sustainable Development is crystal clear that is water for all by 2030. And according to the definition. it means leaving no one behind.

World Water Day: History

We know that across the world on 22nd March World Water Day is celebrated. In 1993, United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate this day as an annual event to increase awareness among the people about the need and conservation of water. Officially it was first added in schedule 21 of the 1992 year “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And from the year 1993 World Water Day celebrations were started to motivate the people about the importance of water.

READ| Water Management: Meaning, Statistics, and Solutions

Purpose of celebrating World Water Day

The United Nation and the members of nations celebrate this day by organizing campaigns and promoting global water conservation through real activities. Basically, every year this campaign is promoted by the UN agencies to encourage the people, make them understand the water issues, and also coordinate with international activities for World Water Day. UN-Water is also responsible for the selection of the World Water Day theme, also distributing messages globally, etc. In fact with UN members and agencies, various NGOs and nongovernment organizations get involved in promotional activities to aware people. All the water issues are highlighted during this event and campaign.
Therefore, now the time comes to take steps forward and unite together to conserve our precious natural resources.
Save Water, Save Life!

Therefore, it is necessary to understand that natural resources are important for sustaining life on earth. With climate change, the environment and ecosystem are affected and resulting in the water crisis. Due to floods, droughts, and water pollution; vegetation, soil, rivers, and lakes are degrading.

World Water Day is celebrated by organizing several events, distributing messages through social media, TV, educational events based on the importance of clean water and conservative measures, competitions, etc. We should plant trees, reconnect rivers to flood plains, restore wetlands, etc. which will help to rebalance the water cycle. 

Also, Read: Important Days in March 2024: National and International Dates List

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Shikha Goyal is a journalist and a content writer with 9+ years of experience. She is a Science Graduate with Post Graduate degrees in Mathematics and Mass Communication & Journalism. She has previously taught in an IAS coaching institute and was also an editor in the publishing industry. At jagranjosh.com, she creates digital content on General Knowledge. She can be reached at shikha.goyal@jagrannewmedia.com
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