I do not need to tell you that the global water challenge we face is one of epic proportions – that of quality, of quantity, of equity, of access, of climate, of peace, and of poverty and human dignity. The most recent SDG monitoring cycle revealed that over 3 billion people are at risk because they don’t know enough about the health of surface and groundwater resources.
This is why World Water Day this year draws attention to the invisible but essential ingredient of all life on earth –our groundwater resources. Groundwater provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide but is under siege the world over.
We at UNEP speak of the triple planetary crisis facing humanity – of climate change, of nature and biodiversity loss, and of pollution and waste. In its focus on the drivers, pressures and responses to freshwater quality – we have a real opportunity to understand the nexus of water pollution, health, food security and ecosystems.
We need a two-pronged approach. One, is to address the over-exploitation of groundwater resources by human activity and consequently, strengthen groundwater governance. Globally, the amount of water extracted from aquifers has increased three-fold in the past fifty years. As we draw indiscriminately from ground water, we put human health and well-being at risk. As UNEP’s work has shown, smart solutions like deploying more efficient metering technology in urban areas can help reduce water consumption. In our work in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, strengthened institutions and the sustainable use of water resources has greatly supported climate smart livelihood activities in the harsh Sahara climate.
Second, we need to invest more in monitoring and reporting systems so that we can have a better understanding of freshwater ecosystem health around the world. UNEP supports the World Water Quality Alliance which brings together experts in water science, technology, governance and diplomacy to provide solutions to maintain and restore ecosystem health. We are proud to work with countries to monitor and make progress on critical fresh water indicators of the SDGs on ambient water quality, integrated water resource management implementation; and changes in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time.
As the IPCC has made clear, at just 1.1°C of global warming we are seeing huge disruptions in the natural world. How we manage and sustainably use groundwater will be at the heart of our efforts to adapt to climate change, and protect the most vulnerable people, especially women and girls.
