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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sian Hewitt

World Water Day: What is it and how can you take part?

Campaigners are urging people to step up to “be the change they want to see” in the world as World Water Day looms.

This year’s United Nations World Water Day theme is Accelerating Change, with world leaders meeting at the end of this month to try to help solve the global water and sanitation crisis.

When is World Water Day?

United Nations World Water Day will take place on March 23, with a spokesman saying: “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. That means you!”

How can people take part?

The UN says it is calling on “family, school and communities” to make a change - no matter how big or small that could be.

People are asked to look at their water consumption and try to change any ways to minimise the use and ‘make their pledge’ on the World Water Day official site.

A spokesman said: “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 for nearly 50 years.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the world to unite around water.

“Play your part. Do what you can.”

The United Nations has said the world is “seriously off track” to meet sustainable development goals to provide decent water and sanitation for all by the year 2030.

Stats show billions of people and countless schools, businesses, farms, and factories around the world do not have access to safe water and toilets.

A spokesman said: “We need to accelerate change - to go beyond business as usual. We need more action.”

The UN 2023 Water Conference, entitled Water for Sustainable Development, will take place from March 22 to March 24, 2023, in New York, to coincide with World Water Day.

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