Safe water is a human right yet 2.2 billion people still live without safely managed drinking water. This World Water Day let’s hold ourselves accountable for our levels of consumption and what this could mean for our planet in years to come.
Global (22 March 2024) – According to astronomy.com, three billion years ago the world was an ‘ocean world’, covered by water. Even though 70% of the Earth consists of water today, only 0,5% of it is obtainable and usable freshwater.
World Water Day is held on 22 March and this year’s theme is ‘Water for Peace’, which focuses on the importance of access to freshwater for all and the role it plays in the stability and prosperity of the world. It’s critical to consider that changes to water supply and climate change are interwoven. The rise in global temperatures causes more water to be evaporated resulting in more storms and rain but also on the flip side this results in extended dry conditions when water evaporates from land.
Think of the ocean as one large solar panel, as climate change causes temperatures to rise, the ocean absorbs more water, and more evaporation occurs. When this happens, freshwater glaciers around Earth melt at a rapid rate, which results in rising sea levels. The freshwater from the melted glaciers is then lost in the ocean.
When the heat from the sun reaches Earth, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps some of that heat in the atmosphere which in turn heats up the planet. This exacerbates climate change. More individuals and companies are becoming aware of their carbon footprint and try to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These can come from burning fossil fuels such as gasoline for driving a vehicle or coal for heating a building.
As global citizens we are accountable for restoring what we take from the planet and not abusing its finite resources, such as water.
There are many steps we can do to lessen the impact of climate change:
- Grow your own fruit and veggies.
- Water your garden after 6pm.
- Buy local produce as products transported from far away usually use trucks that emit carbon dioxide into the air.
- Stop buying bottled water. Use a stainless steel or glass water bottle which will save you money as well.
- Use a cold water setting on the washing machine. This will save energy and water.
- Use a washing line to dry your clothes. Tumble dryers consume a lot of energy.
- Install water-saving shower heads.
- Use solar forms to supply energy where possible.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. This can save up to 9 litres.
- Don’t fill your pool up to the top and keep it covered to avoid evaporation.
- Plant indigenous drought-resistant plants which need minimal watering.
- Install a greywater system to reuse water.
Fast facts
- 2.2 billion people still live without safely managed drinking water.
- Water-related disasters make up 70 percent of all deaths related to natural disasters in the last 50 years.
- Brazil has the largest volume of freshwater in the world.
- 90% of global power generation is water-intensive.
- A trillion tons of water is evaporated daily.
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