The Importance of Fresh Water and its Implications on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Fresh water is a vital resource for life, yet it is scarce on Earth. Only about three percent of the water found on Earth is fresh water, while the remaining 97 percent is salt water. Moreover, most of the fresh water is not easily accessible to humans, with a significant portion locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps, and underground as groundwater. This leaves only one percent of Earth’s fresh water readily available for human use.
However, the distribution of available surface fresh water is unequal across the globe. Countries like Brazil, Russia, Canada, Indonesia, China, Colombia, and the United States possess the majority of the world’s surface freshwater resources. Consequently, approximately one-fifth of the global population resides in water-scarce areas, where each person receives less than 1,000 cubic meters of water per year. This scarcity not only affects access to clean water but also impacts economic development and geopolitics in different regions.
Access to Water
The unequal distribution of freshwater resources results in many populations lacking access to clean and safe drinking water. According to the United Nations, in 2017, 2.1 billion people worldwide did not have access to safely managed drinking water. Instead, they relied on contaminated water, which increases the risk of diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery. Lack of access to clean water leads to over 3 million deaths annually.
International organizations recognize the importance of providing improved water sources to developing countries. Between 1990 and 2015, international efforts enabled 2.6 billion people to gain access to improved water resources. However, nearly 1 billion people in Africa and Asia still lack access to clean water.
Economic Development
Access to fresh water is crucial for economic development. Freshwater sources support fisheries, providing animal protein for 158 million people worldwide. Fisheries serve as a source of subsistence for local fishermen and generate income for traders.
In addition to its role as a habitat, fresh water plays a significant role in agriculture. Approximately 70 percent of the world’s fresh water is used for agricultural purposes. Farmers rely on irrigation to transport water from surface and groundwater sources to their fields. These agricultural activities involve over 1 billion people and contribute over $2.4 trillion to the global economy annually. As the world’s population grows, the demand for agricultural fresh water is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2050, further straining Earth’s limited freshwater supplies.
Geopolitics
The competition for fresh water resources is already evident in international geopolitics. For instance, Ethiopia and Egypt have long disputed over Nile water resources in the Horn of Africa. The Nile River supplies nearly 85 percent of Egypt’s water, but approximately 85 percent of its water originates in Ethiopia. Egypt is concerned that Ethiopia’s plans to dam part of the Nile River for electricity generation will adversely affect its access to the water. Although the disagreement has not escalated into open conflict, securing this vital freshwater resource will shape Ethiopian-Egyptian relations for years to come.
Similar conflicts over water resources occur worldwide. Even in countries like the United States, where freshwater resources are relatively abundant, disputes arise over water usage. A prominent example is the ongoing debate surrounding the Colorado River system. This water system supplies seven states, but due to drought and reduced water flow, these states must determine how to reduce water usage to preserve the river for all users. As populations increase and climate change alters precipitation patterns, such conflicts over water will become more frequent in the future.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
- SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
- SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
- SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Access to safely managed drinking water (Indicator for SDG 6.1)
- Water-use efficiency across sectors (Indicator for SDG 6.4)
- Reduction of marine pollution from land-based activities (Indicator for SDG 14.1)
- Conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems (Indicator for SDG 15.1)
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | Access to safely managed drinking water |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. | Water-use efficiency across sectors |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. | Reduction of marine pollution from land-based activities |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. | Conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems |
The article addresses the issues related to access to clean water, water scarcity, and the importance of freshwater for economic development and geopolitics. These issues are connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Based on the article’s content, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. For SDG 6, the targets include achieving universal access to safe drinking water (6.1) and increasing water-use efficiency to address water scarcity (6.4). SDG 14 aims to prevent and reduce marine pollution from land-based activities (14.1), while SDG 15 focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems (15.1).
The article mentions or implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets. These indicators include access to safely managed drinking water (Indicator for SDG 6.1), water-use efficiency across sectors (Indicator for SDG 6.4), reduction of marine pollution from land-based activities (Indicator for SDG 14.1), and conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems (Indicator for SDG 15.1).
In summary, the article highlights the importance of addressing water-related issues and provides insights into the relevant SDGs, targets, and indicators. By focusing on these goals and monitoring the corresponding indicators, progress can be made towards ensuring access to clean water, promoting sustainable water use, reducing marine pollution, and conserving freshwater ecosystems.
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Source: nationalgeographic.org
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