This week in our 'SDG's and you' class where we learned about issues without borders and how many of these issues encompassed by the SDGs are issues that have worldwide repercussions and are not limited by borders. We also learned a lot about fair trade and cooperation. We even went to a fairtrade pop-up shop where we saw tons of amazing handmade products that were made by people who were getting paid fair wages under a fair wage co-op. To put this all together we wrote an essay on any SDG of our choice about how people and organizations are working to address this SDG. I chose SDG 6 because I feel like access to water is so important yet compared to the other SDG's it seems like it's taken as less important.
Working together to Water the World
According to the UN between 1970 and 2015 natural wetland shrank by 35% which is 3 times the rate of forest loss, additionally, in 2014, the entire eastern lobe of the South Aral Sea had completely dried up and disappeared. To be able to provide equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, many people and organizations are working together to address these issues.
SDG 6 is a response to issues relating to protecting and cleaning our water sources, doing so will dampen the possible health issues that unclean drinking water brings with it. The exact issues that SDG 6 addresses are issues relating to our current source of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, but it also includes the topic of what the quality and sustainability of these same water resources will be like as we move forward into the future. According to the UN, an assessment of rivers, lakes, and aquifers of 89 countries and territories in 2020 indicates that the water quality of 72 percent of the water bodies assessed is good. Additionally, the UN notes that in 2020, 129 countries and territories were not on track to meet the target for implementing integrated water resources management by 2030. With these statistics we can clearly see at the rate we are going we will not be able to sustain ourselves in the future unless we all work together to protect our water.
SDG 6 is an important goal that many countries are working towards. One country having notable success with SDG 6 and all other goals is Sweden. Sweden stands out with UN goals since it’s become the most sustainable country in the world, in fact, it scored the highest on the SDG index with 84.5. Sweden attributes a large portion of its success with SDG 6 to its good governing which helps to provide strong financing for these issues, along with transparency and accountability which help to reduce corruption and form a more “Whole way of governing”. Through this Sweden's government is able to work together and pass beneficial and progressive legislation for issues like the SDGs. Another thing they do well is how they work to provide sustainable management of water resources which helps provide positive results for water-use efficiency, water quality, the circular economy, and many other sectors. Water supply and sanitation must be seen as an essential part of integrated water resource management.
Lastly, it’s important that everyone even YOU has a hand in fixing these issues since the size and spread of this issue is so great and so detrimental. There are many ways you can lend a helping hand on this issue. First, according to the World Bank, one of the biggest things you can do is to quit polluting our waters. It is far easier to prevent further damage by pollution than to reverse the damage that has already been done, this means we have to reduce the levels of emissions, trash, and other contaminants making its way into our water. Another way is through philanthropy, this is important because for us to make progress on this goal we have to be able to finance our actions to fix these issues. The UN mentions Water.org as one reputable place where donations for this cause are taken. According to Water.org, the solution is to address the gap in financing. Through access to affordable financing, we can provide water for millions in need with safe water and sanitation. The final thing we can do is get the participation of local communities for water and sanitation planning and management, which is essential for ensuring that the needs of all people are being met.
In conclusion, SDG 6 aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all. In Sweden, they are making good progress to things like good funding and legislation for these issues, and lastly for us to make progress we have to work together and do things like help provide funding. To provide people with safe and affordable drinking water for all we have to work together to meet the goals of SDG 6. Without participation from everyone, we won't make any progress. The world needs you!
SDG 6 is a response to issues relating to protecting and cleaning our water sources, doing so will dampen the possible health issues that unclean drinking water brings with it. The exact issues that SDG 6 addresses are issues relating to our current source of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, but it also includes the topic of what the quality and sustainability of these same water resources will be like as we move forward into the future. According to the UN, an assessment of rivers, lakes, and aquifers of 89 countries and territories in 2020 indicates that the water quality of 72 percent of the water bodies assessed is good. Additionally, the UN notes that in 2020, 129 countries and territories were not on track to meet the target for implementing integrated water resources management by 2030. With these statistics we can clearly see at the rate we are going we will not be able to sustain ourselves in the future unless we all work together to protect our water.
SDG 6 is an important goal that many countries are working towards. One country having notable success with SDG 6 and all other goals is Sweden. Sweden stands out with UN goals since it’s become the most sustainable country in the world, in fact, it scored the highest on the SDG index with 84.5. Sweden attributes a large portion of its success with SDG 6 to its good governing which helps to provide strong financing for these issues, along with transparency and accountability which help to reduce corruption and form a more “Whole way of governing”. Through this Sweden's government is able to work together and pass beneficial and progressive legislation for issues like the SDGs. Another thing they do well is how they work to provide sustainable management of water resources which helps provide positive results for water-use efficiency, water quality, the circular economy, and many other sectors. Water supply and sanitation must be seen as an essential part of integrated water resource management.
Lastly, it’s important that everyone even YOU has a hand in fixing these issues since the size and spread of this issue is so great and so detrimental. There are many ways you can lend a helping hand on this issue. First, according to the World Bank, one of the biggest things you can do is to quit polluting our waters. It is far easier to prevent further damage by pollution than to reverse the damage that has already been done, this means we have to reduce the levels of emissions, trash, and other contaminants making its way into our water. Another way is through philanthropy, this is important because for us to make progress on this goal we have to be able to finance our actions to fix these issues. The UN mentions Water.org as one reputable place where donations for this cause are taken. According to Water.org, the solution is to address the gap in financing. Through access to affordable financing, we can provide water for millions in need with safe water and sanitation. The final thing we can do is get the participation of local communities for water and sanitation planning and management, which is essential for ensuring that the needs of all people are being met.
In conclusion, SDG 6 aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all. In Sweden, they are making good progress to things like good funding and legislation for these issues, and lastly for us to make progress we have to work together and do things like help provide funding. To provide people with safe and affordable drinking water for all we have to work together to meet the goals of SDG 6. Without participation from everyone, we won't make any progress. The world needs you!
Reflection: This Action project was really interesting because it pushed me to research how any person like myself could help make an impact on something so borderless and widespread. It's was interesting to learn how cooperation plays a key role in these SDG's.
Works Cited:
"Water vulnerability: A problem without borders". Investment Monitor, 30 October 2021. https://www.investmentmonitor.ai/water/water-vulnerability-a-problem-without-borders Accessed 11 November 2021
"Overview". World bank https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/overview#1 Accessed 11 Nov 2021
"Goal 6 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs". United Nations https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6 Accessed 11 Nov 2021
"Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6 - water and sanitation for all: UN-Water". United Nations, 24 February, 1970 https://www.unwater.org/publications/summary-progress-update-2021-sdg-6-water-and-sanitation-for-all/ Accessed 11 November 2021
"Home". SDG 6 Data https://www.sdg6data.org/ Accessed 11 Nov 2021
"Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6". Water.org https://water.org/achieving-sdg6/ 11 November 2021
"Indicator 6.1.1 – Drinking water". Indicator | SDG 6 Data https://www.sdg6data.org/indicator/6.1.1 11 November 2021
SWEDEN AND CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION MAIN . Government.se. https://www.government.se/49f47b/contentassets/3bef47b49ed64a75bcdf56ff053ccaea/6---clean-water-and-sanitation.pdf Accessed 11 November 2021
Comments
Post a Comment