Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Water is fundamental to all biotic life, including human life, on Earth, despite it being a finite and irreplaceable resource, and is only renewable if adequately managed. Apart from being a catalyser for the diminution of the global burden of disease and improving health, welfare and productivity of the population, water is also central to the production and preservation of a host of benefits and services accruing from ecosystems. Being at the core of adaptation to climate change, water serves as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment. Achieving SDG 6 targets in Africa and Asia would require dramatic acceleration to the current rate of progress and calls for urgent action because the lieu of these services threaten peace and development.
With more than 1.7 billion people inhabiting river basins worldwide along with the ongoing pace of depletion of water through overuse exceeding natural recharge, the likelihood of witnessing two-thirds of the global population living in water-stressed countries by 2025 cannot be ruled out. Water can be a serious challenge for sustainable development if it is not managed efficaciously and equitably. In the wake of rapid and unpredictable changes, water entails the potential of playing a key enabling role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems.
Stresses on the earth system and exhaustion of its resources are causing interrelated, complex, and frequently unwanted outcomes that include impacts on the water system and unprecedented changes to global water circulation. Actions at the local scale to meet human water needs may trigger increased environmental stress at regional and global scales, and thus create a trade-off between human water needs and environmental sustainability. Water is undeniably at the core of sustainable development and the latter is strongly connected to the availability and access to sufficient quantity and quality of water for the preservation of healthy ecosystems and is critical for socio-economic and human development. Yet increased pressure on the water system is observed through increased global demand and mismanagement of our water resources and water-related infrastructure.
The decision to incorporate a dedicated water goal-SDG-6 among the 17 SDGs is a clear recognition that water is not only part of many other SDGs but in many aspects their precondition hence is interconnected with all SDGs. Within this goal are fundamental targets for drinking water provision and sanitation but also for environmental sustainability. The water goal is expected to address the global water crisis as it unfolds, as evidenced by increased water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, widespread pollution, accelerated declines in freshwater biodiversity and the loss of vital ecosystem goods and services. Water is a powerful tool for cooperation and dialogue in support of sustainable development and safer and resilient societies. It is not a sector but a connector that links all industries and defend sectors. Thus, water policies and planning should be unified, taking integrated water resources management as a system of systems.However, there is a need for more effective, integrated and coordinated actions, coupled with strong political will. All stakeholders, including those in government, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia, should be engaged, paying special attention to this transversal tool and leaving no one behind.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
