2024 World Water Day Toolkit
World Water Day is observed each year on March 22 to promote the responsible use of water and access to safe water for everyone. Water holds immense value. Every day, people use water in different ways including drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation, hygiene, sanitation, and health care.
Every year since 1993, World Water Day (22 March) raises awareness and inspires action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is a United Nations observance coordinated by UN-Water.
Why is water considered a natural resource? Water maintains ecological balance. It sustains life. It is necessary for respiration in aquatic organisms. It is essential for photosynthesis.
Access to water and sanitation is a human right. A well managed water cycle underpins progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in relation to hunger, gender equity, health, education, livelihoods, sustainability and ecosystems.
Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment. Without proper water governance, there is likely to be increased competition for water between sectors and an escalation of water crises of various kinds, triggering emergencies in a range of water-dependent sectors.
The physical world of water is closely bound up with the socio-political world, with water often a key factor in managing risks such as famine, epidemics, inequalities and political instability.
Did you know?
1.4 million people die annually and 74 million will have their lives shortened by diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene. (WHO 2022)
Today, 1 in 4 people – 2 billion people worldwide – lack safe drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)
Almost half of the global population – 3.6 billion people – lack safe sanitation. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)
Globally, 44 per cent of household wastewater is not safely treated. (UN-Water 2021)
Global water demand (in water withdrawals) is projected to increase by 55 per cent by 2050. (OECD 2012)
One of LAMA’s Policy Priorities for 2024 is Water ~ it’s scarcity, its quality, its sustainability. If you have information to share or an interest in discussing water resources, please contact us at director@lamaz.org.
This year, consider ways that you might observe World Water Day.
2024 Leveraging Water for Peace Toolkit
UN-Water is the convener for World Water Day and selects the theme for each year in consultation with UN organizations that share an interest in that year's focus.
2024 theme: “Leveraging Water for Peace”
CAMPAIGN TRELLO with social media resources in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
FACTSHEET in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
POSTER in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
SOCIAL MEDIA assets in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
VISUAL IDENTIFIER in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
2023 theme: “Accelerating Change”
2022 theme: “Groundwater”
2021 theme: "Valuing Water" and the public campaign invited people to join a global conversation on social media to "tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water".
2020 theme: "Water and Climate Change".
Previous themes for the years 2016 to 2019 were "Water and Jobs'", "Why waste water?" "Nature for Water", and "Leaving no one behind".