Ensuring Access to Clean Water & Sanitation for All: Topic Overview & Resources

Ensuring Access to Clean Water & Sanitation for All

According to the United Nations, over 2 billion people around the world lack access to safe drinking water, and 1.5 billion lack basic sanitation services. As the world population grows, the demand for water continues to rise even in the face of water scarcity. The problem is especially acute in countries that are landlocked, prone to drought, or struggle with infrasturcture. A lack of clean water globally raises the risk of disease, food shortages and even conflicts over this precious resource, making access to water a public health issue as well as a peace and security issue.

Students assigned to this committee topic in the 2023-2024 Jr. Model United Nations - Student Diplomat Program will explore how policy innovation, infrastructure improvements, and international cooperation can help increase access to water around the world.

Recommended Resources

Visit the United Nations website to learn more about SDG 6 - Clean Water & Sanitation

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation - The Global Goals

SDG compass outlines required roles, key actions, tools, and indicators necessary to achieve SDG 6 targets.

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all – SDG Compass

This overview by the UN provides a great summary of water-related issues and what the UN is doing to ensure clean water access.

 

Water | United Nations

This brief video clearly outlines what water scarcity is and why and how it occurs.

 

Water Scarcity - explained in a nutshell - YouTube

This World Economic Forum article explains why water security is such an important issue for the global community.

 

Why water security is our most urgent challenge today | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

This Ted Talk, accompanied by great visuals, explains why the world is facing water shortages and what can be done in response.

 

Are we running out of clean water? - Balsher Singh Sidhu - YouTube

This online tool allows students to calculate their own water usage.

 

Household (watercalculator.org)

The UN's most recent SDG 6 report gives a detailed description of the current water scarcity challenge and what needs to be done to meet the goal of Clean Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.