World Water Day 2021; March 22

 Statement by the United Nations General Assembly president on World Water Day 2021, March 22nd,

A year ago, as the world began to shut its doors to the global pandemic, one of the messages we heard most was that we must wash our hands.

We were told that this could help stop the spread of COVID-19.
But what of the 3 billion people who still lack access to basic handwashing facilities? What of the healthcare facilities without running water? Sadly, for many around the world, they have had to face the pandemic without access to even these basic, human needs.
We cannot change what has happened, but we can learn from it.
I am proud to say that today, on World Water Day, the UN General Assembly will wrap up a high-level meeting, on water and the Sustainable Development Goals.
We will hear about those who continue to lack access to water; who do not have proper sanitation; who spend countless hours trekking to water sources.
And we will hear of the encouraging and innovative initiatives underway by the UN System and by civil society groups to help address these problems.
This gives me hope.
My friends, we have so much more to do; this problem will not be solved by a meeting – but it also will not be solved by silence.

By talking, by raising the issue and learning from each other, we can continue to work together to truly achieve clean water and sanitation for all.

Volkan Bozkir, U.N.General Assembly President.

FORUM: "Valuing water"is the theme of World Water Day 2021.

UN-Water sets the annual theme. In 2021, the theme is valuing water. In 2022, it will be groundwater. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Join the Conversation #worldwaterday

Water is a unique and non-substitutable resource. As the foundation of life, societies and economies, it carries multiple values and benefits. But unlike most other valuable resources, it has proven extremely difficult to determine its true ‘value’. The 2021 World Water Development Report on “Valuing Water” assesses the current status of and challenges to the valuation of water across differing sectors and perspectives and identifies ways in which valuation can be promoted as a tool help achieve sustainability. The World Water Development Report 2021 will be launched on the occasion of World Water Day, on 22 March 2021.

World Meteorological Day 2020, March 23

Every 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization commemorates the coming into force of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950. 

Every drop counts; Count every drop.

World Meteorological Day 2020, March 23.

Theme: Every drop counts; Count every drop.

Opening remarks by the United Nations Secretary- General at press conference on WMO State of the Climate 2019 Report

Thank you, Professor Taalas.

The indications are crystal clear.

Global heating is accelerating.

2019 was the second hottest year on record, with the past decade the hottest in human history.

Greenhouse gas concentrations are at the highest levels in 3 million years – when the Earth’s temperature was as much as 3 degrees hotter and sea levels some 15 metres higher.

Ocean heat is at a record level, with temperatures rising at the equivalent of five Hiroshima bombs a second.

We count the cost in human lives and livelihoods as droughts, wildfires, floods and extreme storms take their deadly toll.

We have no time to lose if we are to avert climate catastrophe.

This is a pivotal year for how we address the climate emergency.

We have to aim high at the next climate conference in Glasgow in November.

We need all countries to demonstrate that we can achieve emissions reductions of 45 per cent from 2010 levels this decade, and that we will reach net-zero emissions by mid-century.

We know this is the only way to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In Glasgow, success will depend on countries, the private sector and civil society demonstrating that they are taking significant steps to raise ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance.

I see four main priorities for COP26.

First, national climate plans – the Nationally Determined Contributions, as they are called – must show more ambition.

Even if countries fully implement their existing plans under the Paris Agreement, and many are not doing so, we will still be on course to reach 3 degrees of heating this century.

Revised NDCs - Nationally Determined Contributions - must set clear targets for 2025 or 2030 that will help us stick to the 1.5-degree limit.

Second, all nations need to adopt strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

So far, 70 countries have announced that they are committed to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Many other constituencies are doing the same, such as cities, banks and businesses.

But this still only represents less than a quarter of global emissions.

The largest emitters must commit, or our efforts will be in vain.

The third priority is for a robust package of programmes, projects and initiatives that will help communities and nations adapt to climate disruption and build resilience.

Let us have no illusions. Climate change is already causing calamity, and more is to come.

Supporting investment in adaptation in developing countries is a political and moral imperative.

The fourth priority is finance.

By COP26, developed countries must deliver on their commitment to mobilize 100 billion dollars a year by 2020.

Investments in renewables and green technologies must increase.

We need to end the vast and wasteful subsidies for fossil fuels, which actually increased last year.

And we need to put a price on carbon and see a commitment to end the construction of new coal power plants.

It’s time to end our addiction to coal.

Ultimately, COP 26 needs to demonstrate that the world is moving quickly in the right direction.

I count on the UK COP26 Presidency, on Member States, and on the full constellation of partners, including cities, the private sector, finance institutions, and the philanthropic community and civil society to commit to meaningful climate action before it is too late.

Thank you.

António Guterres

Your life would not exist without Water.

Here is Water. You have met before. In fact, you come across Water in everything you do. Your life would not exist without Water. But Water is not infinite and we are draining our supplies. We need to rethink the way we are using Water. Every drop counts.

Secretary-General's message on World Environment Day

Latest Statements

New York, 5 June 2012 - Secretary-General's message on World Environment Day

As the world gears up for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), World Environment Day is an opportunity to highlight the need for a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable world.  This year’s theme, “Green Economy: Does it include you?”, underscores the need for everyone to play their part in keeping humankind's ecological footprint within planetary boundaries.
The world’s population stands at 7 billion and may rise to more than 9 billion by 2050.  This means greater pressure on already crowded cities – where more than half of all people now live – and on natural resources, as demand for food, water and energy rises.  It also means more people in search of decent jobs.  Globally, 1.3 billion people are currently unemployed or under-employed.  An estimated half billion more will join the job market over the next decade.
Sustainability entails providing opportunity for all by balancing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development.  We have to rebut the myth that there is conflict between economic and environmental health.  With smart policies and the right investments, countries can protect their environment, grow their economies, generate decent jobs and accelerate social progress.
Rio+20 is our opportunity to deepen global commitment to sustainable development.  In Rio, we should agree that measuring growth and wealth by Gross Domestic Product alone is inadequate.  We should agree that the world needs a set of sustainable development goals that will build on the Millennium Development Goals.  And we should make progress on some of the building blocks of sustainability – energy, water, food, cities, oceans, jobs and the empowerment of women.
Sustainability is gaining prominence on the public policy agenda in both developed and developing nations.  The UN itself is working towards climate neutrality and sustainable management of our offices and activities.  In Rio, we must mobilize the partnerships we need to shift the world onto a more sustainable trajectory of growth and development.  On this World Environment Day, in advance of this historic conference, I urge governments, businesses and all members of society to make the holistic choices that will ensure a sustainable future – the future we want.