World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22. The idea of establishing World Water Day was proposed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1993, the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed March 22 as World Water Day. The goal of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of water, draw attention to issues related to water supply and sanitation, and promote the sustainable use of water resources.
Water is the foundation of life on our planet. Although about 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, only 3% of it is freshwater, and just 1% is suitable for drinking. The careful management and rational use of water resources are essential for sustainable development and the preservation of ecosystems.
This year, the day is dedicated to glacier preservation:
• Glacier Melting: Due to climate change, glaciers are melting faster than ever, causing unpredictable and extreme changes in the water cycle.
• Impact on People and Ecosystems: Changes in meltwater runoff cause floods, droughts, landslides, and rising sea levels, affecting billions of people and damaging ecosystems.
• Need for Action: Joint efforts are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changes to slow glacier melting and ensure sustainable water resource management.
Resources
UN-Water
•UN World Water Development Report
• Resource archive and themes of past World Water Days
International Year of Glacier Preservation
• International Year of Glacier Preservation official website
United Nations
• UN Water Convention (Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes)
• UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
UNESCO
• UN World Water Development Report 2024
• Glaciers in World Heritage Sites: Sentinels of Climate Change
WMO
• State of Global Water Resources Report 2023
UNFCCC
• The Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
OHCHR
• Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation: Water as an Argument for Peace, Brotherhood, and Cooperation (A/78/253)
Events
The World Glacier Day and World Water Day 2025 events took place on March 20–21 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris ([Registration link]) and on March 21 at the UN Headquarters in New York ([Livestream link]).