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#OnThisDay | World Water Day 2024
In today’s changing world, water has become more important than ever. Water supports all life on earth, but there are 2.2 billion people currently living without access to safe water. UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and Sanitation for all, seeks to reconcile this statistic by 2030. With mounting, multidimensional pressure on the Earth’s water systems, it is vital to view water as the fluid, interconnecting entity that it is, even beyond its critical role in supporting life on Earth.
Today is World Water Day, an annual United Nations Observance event established in 1993. This year’s theme is Leveraging Water for Peace [1].
The 3 key messages are:
- Water can create peace or spark conflict
- Prosperity and peace rely on water
- Water can lead us out of crisis
This year’s theme emphasizes the intrinsic connection water has to humans, not just individually, but as a global species. In the context of the key messages of World Water Day 2024, it is clear that water participates in life on Earth beyond its traditional, biospheric functions. Water’s multidimensional connection to people ensures that changes to the water balance inherently change societal balances. Thus, water is indeed fundamental to peace, and peace is fundamental to water.
This relationship between water and peace presents an incredible opportunity for positive change. Water and peace go hand in hand because they are both transboundary functions – they can and do cross societal borders through rivers, oceans, and ideas. So too must our work be as water stewards and peacemakers. It is important to recognize that this work must be done both formally and informally and to recognize that small adjustments at the individual level are equally important to large-scale policy changes. Reconciling our personal relationships with water and peace is fundamental to global sustainable development.
In Canada, although we have one of the world’s largest per-capita freshwater reserves, our current systems are not able to provide equitable clean water access. Across the country, drinking water advisories (DWAs) are issued to warn people about their water’s safety. These DWAs are disproportionately issued in First Nations communities compared to urbanized Canadian cities. We encourage you to read more about this here: https://tinyurl.com/IssuingDWAs and https://tinyurl.com/MappingDWAs
We recognize that not everyone is a water professional, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all be peacemakers. We encourage you to celebrate World Water Day 2024 by engaging with its topics, however, they most compel you. Like water, our individual work is not restricted by terrestrial boundaries. We are capable of spreading awareness and understanding and with the spread of new ideas, we are capable of sparking positive change.
Today, we remember that we are capable of bringing peace through water, but also capable of bringing water through peace. Happy World Water Day 2024!
#OnThisDay | World Wetlands Day
Approximately 90% of the Earth’s wetlands have undergone deterioration since the 1700s, and their decline is occurring at a rate three times faster than that of forests. Despite this alarming trend, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.
In Canada, wetlands once covered approximately 13% of the land area, but in settled regions, they have become increasingly scarce due to various land use practices. Southern Ontario, for instance, has witnessed the conversion of 68% of its original wetlands to support agriculture and urban development. Similarly, only a quarter of the original wetlands in southwestern Manitoba remain intact. However, the northern regions of Canada still boast largely pristine wetland environments.
The establishment of World Wetlands Day in 1997, under the Convention on Wetlands, underscores the global recognition of the significance of wetlands. Recently, the UN General Assembly designated February 2nd as World Wetlands Day, emphasizing the need to protect and preserve these ecosystems.
This year’s theme emphasizes the intrinsic connection between wetlands and human wellbeing. Wetlands not only sustain life but also provide inspiration and resilience to communities worldwide. Recognizing this, the campaign urges individuals to value and safeguard wetlands, emphasizing that every effort contributes to their conservation.
As we observe World Wetlands Day, it’s imperative to raise awareness at both national and global levels to halt the rapid loss of wetlands and promote conservation efforts. This day presents an opportunity to deepen public understanding of the vital role wetlands play in sustaining life on Earth.
Discover more about World Wetlands Day at https://lnkd.in/gskRKSSs.
Explore Wetlands in Canada and their extent on the Atlas of Canada Map Wetlands: https://lnkd.in/gH_CZfVD.
Engage in World Wetlands Day activities in Canada:
[1] https://lnkd.in/gm9N5wj4
[2] https://lnkd.in/g3pNeyPV
[3] https://lnkd.in/guukduDA
[4] https://lnkd.in/g52tx__V
Explore global events at https://lnkd.in/gffDNUvd and make a pledge to protect wetlands at https://lnkd.in/g8nQ6MAi.
References:
[1] https://lnkd.in/dwiJGa2
[2] https://lnkd.in/gpV3us8d
IWA YWP Canada 