The Healthier Hearts Foundation recognizes the ongoing global challenges surrounding access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Despite significant strides, billions of individuals still lack these fundamental necessities, necessitating a concerted effort to achieve universal coverage by 2030. Current projections indicate a substantial increase in global rates of progress is imperative: a sixfold increase for drinking water, fivefold for sanitation, and threefold for hygiene. While water use efficiency has improved by 9 percent, concerns persist regarding water stress and scarcity, with 2.4 billion people residing in water-stressed countries as of 2020, exacerbated by conflicts and climate change. To address these challenges and realign with Goal 6 targets, critical strategies include augmenting sector-wide investment and capacity-building, fostering innovation and evidence-based approaches, enhancing cross-sectoral coordination, and embracing a more integrated and holistic approach to water management, involving all stakeholders in concerted action
Despite notable advancements, a significant portion of the global population still lacks access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Achieving universal coverage by 2030 necessitates a substantial acceleration in current rates of progress: sixfold for drinking water, fivefold for sanitation, and threefold for hygiene.
Water use efficiency has increased by 9 percent; however, water stress and scarcity persist in various regions worldwide. In 2020, 2.4 billion individuals resided in water-stressed nations, with challenges exacerbated by conflicts and climate change.
To reinvigorate efforts towards Goal 6, key strategies entail augmenting sector-wide investment and capacity-building, fostering innovation and evidence-based action, enhancing cross-sectoral coordination, and embracing integrated water management approaches.
Although rural areas have witnessed improvements in access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, progress in urban areas has stagnated or regressed. From 2015 to 2022, the proportion of the global population with access to safely managed drinking water services rose from 69 to 73 percent, while that for safely managed sanitation services increased from 49 to 57 percent. Additionally, basic hygiene services improved from 67 to 75 percent during this period, signifying significant progress.
Nonetheless, challenges persist, with millions still lacking access to essential services, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Urgent action is imperative to bridge these gaps and accelerate progress towards universal coverage by 2030.
Water quality has shown improvement in countries with robust monitoring systems; however, challenges remain in untreated wastewater management. Efforts to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater by 2030 require intensified actions, especially in regions with inadequate data and reporting.
Enhancing water-use efficiency, particularly in agriculture, is crucial for mitigating water stress. Despite an overall improvement in water-use efficiency, regional disparities persist, necessitating targeted interventions to optimize water utilization across sectors.
Effective water management and transboundary cooperation are essential for enhancing resilience to crises. While progress has been made, global efforts fall short of meeting targets, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced collaboration and coordination.
The decline in official development assistance to the water sector raises concerns and underscores the importance of sustained investment to address water-related challenges, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Lastly, protecting and restoring wetland ecosystems are critical for preserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable water management. Urgent action is required to safeguard these vital ecosystems from further degradation.
In conclusion, addressing water sustainability challenges requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and sustained investment to achieve the ambitious goals outlined in the SDGs by 2030.
