About World Water Day
The UN General Assembly designated the first World Water Day in 1993, and each subsequent year, the March 22 event has highlighted a specific aspect of freshwater sustainability. Over the years, World Water Days have focused on trans-boundary waters, sanitation, coping with water scarcity, and water and culture.
For World Water Day 2010, UNEP launched the ‘Clean Water for a Healthy World’ report that also feeds into the discussion by detailing how water quality is as important as water quantity for satisfying human and environmental needs, yet has received far less investment, scientific support, and public attention. Prepared by the Pacific Institute, one of the world’s leading non-profit research organizations on freshwater issues, the report brought global attention to the need for clean, safe water – and action and policy to address water pollution.
This year UNEP also launched the UNEP’s Africa Water Atlas which is a visual account of Africa’s endowment and use of water resources, revealed through 224 maps and 104 satellite images as well as some 500 graphics and hundreds of compelling photos. However, the Atlas is more than a collection of static maps and images accompanied by informative facts and figures: its visual elements vividly illustrate a succinct narrative describing and analyzing Africa’s water issues and exemplifying them through the judicious use of case studies.
Source: UNEP Press Release dated March 22, 2011.
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