World Water Day occurs annually on March 22nd, initiated by the United Nations to celebrate the planet’s freshwater sources. Those who live with easy access to clean drinking water may not be aware of the struggles that nearly a third of our planet faces:
- 1 billion people on the planet live without access to safe water
- One in four primary schools do not have access to safe water
- Around 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year
- Water scarcity could displace around 700 million people by 2030.
World Water Day – Leaving No One Behind
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 is to see fresh water available to everyone in the world by 2030. However, this is a tall goal, as billions of people are still living without safe water. This includes people living in North America in Canada, the United States and in Mexico. This year, the theme for World Water Day “Leaving no one behind†and is about tackling the water crisis. It will also be addressing the reasons why many people still live without safe water.
Safe water is defined as water that is accessible on premises, available when it is needed and is free from contamination. Access to safe drinking water is a human right, and is one of (if not the) most important requirement for public health, and is critical to sustainable development and prosperity for humanity. In 2010, the UN declared “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”
How to Spread Awareness
Societal discrimination, as well as infrastructure needs, are leaving many people behind. Particularly as climate change continues to affect our planet, issues like environmental degradation, climate change, population growth, conflict, forced displacement and migration flows can also disproportionately affect marginalized groups through impacts on water.
Here in Playa del Carmen, we care about the importance of this valuable natural resource. Therefore, we encourage you to do your part this World Water Day by helping to spread awareness about this critical need. Visit http://www.worldwaterday.org to access resources that you can use to:
- Share information and materials on your social media channels
- Reach out to your friends and acquaintances with stories and information about this global water crisis
- Start a conversation in your community on this topic
- Organize or attend a local event
- Gather individuals together to brainstorm ideas or other actions to address this crisis
And remember, at Top Mexico Real Estate… we make it happen!