When is the World Water Day celebrated? 

The correct answer is March 22.

Key Points

• World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22 to highlight the importance of freshwater and advocate for sustainable management of water resources.
• It was first designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 as part of Agenda 21 during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.
• The day focuses on raising awareness about the global water crisis, especially the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.
• Each year, the day has a specific theme. For instance, the theme for 2023 was "Accelerating Change" to address water and sanitation crises.
• World Water Day contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Additional Information

• Water Scarcity:
  • Water scarcity affects over 40% of the global population, with this percentage expected to rise due to climate change and population growth.
  • Around 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
• Sustainable Development Goal 6:
  • SDG 6 focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
  • Key targets include universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as improved water quality through pollution reduction.
• UN-Water:
  • UN-Water is the United Nations' inter-agency mechanism that coordinates efforts related to water and sanitation.
  • It plays a critical role in organizing World Water Day and promoting global water-related initiatives.
• Impact of Unsafe Water:
  • Contaminated water contributes to diseases like cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea, leading to approximately 485,000 deaths annually.
  • Lack of access to clean water disproportionately affects women and children, who often bear the burden of fetching water for their families.