Let's make water's role in sustainability a global goal

On April 22, at the call of the United Nations, we came together to focus on a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. But for true sustainability, we need to make better use of our remaining water 365 days a year.

It has been more than 70 years since the United Nations was founded to maintain international peace and security, promote social progress and enhance both human rights and the basic standard of living of every citizen in the world.

As part of its global mission, the United Nations has today committed to the 17 pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals, with increasing water efficiency playing a critical role in addressing water scarcity.

In the 1970s, she began a mission to highlight the importance of global sustainability, and by 2009, the topic had gained mainstream attention, leading to the creation of International Mother Earth Day. Now every year on April 22, we choose a day to focus on the vital need to transition to a more sustainable economy that benefits both people and the planet.

The complex relationship between water and sustainability

As we are in the UN International Decade (2018-2028) for Action – Water for Sustainable Development, we must address the water challenges we face as a result of a changing climate. Dedicating just one day a year to discussing the importance of water for sustainability is not enough. This year, we must treat every day as Earth Day, because with rising temperatures, melting glaciers and dwindling global fresh water supplies, our planet's survival depends on it.

The year 2022 will be a symbol of sustainable development and water in particular, with many meetings of world leaders to discuss the role water can play in preparation for the UN Water Conference in 2023. Two of the key issues that will be on the agenda of these global meetings , are supply chain management and community engagement. No discussion of agriculture, clean water, or sustainability is complete without a thorough understanding of both.

Why is water so critical to the health of agriculture and the future of sustainability? For starters, it's the supply chain.

Over the past few months, we've heard quite a bit about disruptions to our global supply chain. It's easy to notice that the delivery speed of our Amazon packages has been affected as global port congestion and growing freight processes are causing shortages across industries. However, there is another vital supply chain that is also disrupted; our available supplies of fresh water.

Ensuring the health of our watersheds is a top priority

The key to efficient water use are watersheds, common outlets that channel rain and snow to where all the water flows. When watersheds are not healthy, the entire water supply chain suffers. As global companies increase their efforts to contribute to sustainability, it is fair to say that 2022 has the potential to be a watershed moment for watershed governance; but this can only happen if we ask the question, "What role do we play in helping our customers make a positive impact on watershed management?"

It is not enough to simply produce and distribute a useful product. As freshwater resources become increasingly scarce, we have an obligation to ensure that our customers use water efficiently.

The numbers also support this story. Between 2001 and 2018, 74 percent of natural disasters were water-related, and this number will only increase. By 2040, one quarter of the world's children will live in areas of extremely high water stress.

In addition, good water management is good business: the economic loss due to the drought in the United States in 2012 was $20 billion, the costliest in the country's history. The next one will cost even more.

Rethinking water management

Collective action is the only way out, and businesses must follow suit. As leaders in water management and water technology, it is important that we ensure that our customers increase their water yield and maintain that yield properly. Then we need to look at the entire supply chain to make sure that we are all ensuring the health of our watersheds at every stage. We are only as strong as our weakest links.

To support changes in water management, we need to rethink the incentive model. Carbon credits have been revolutionary in the transformation of regenerative agriculture. What if water got the same attention as carbon? We would have the potential to offset water consumption throughout the supply chain. it's all possible. It simply requires collective action for widespread adoption.

And while conservation is key, water quality is just as important as water quantity. Companies need to ask themselves: Are we doing the best we can and doing everything we can to ensure water quality?

Lead by example with private-public partnerships

Today, businesses around the world have a great opportunity to lead by example. Not only are we role models, but we also understand that we can't do it alone.

Businesses must work together with both governments and citizens in this battle. The European Union has offered useful guidance on how regulation and incentives can deliver results in agricultural areas on water supply, greenhouse gases and climate change. The United States and other developed countries can learn from them and still have a long way to go.

One way businesses can help speed things up is through public-private partnerships. Supporting and partnering with our communities is the right way to ensure safe and reliable water supplies for everyone. This partnership includes relationships with sanitation, drinking water sources, farmers, industry thinkers and government officials.

Water management starts with each of us

The United Nations understands the role that business plays and has created the Director-General's Water Mandate, a call for corporate water sustainability that sets out six areas of commitment for water management.

Community is emphasized as one of these six areas, but in fact it is an integral part of all of them. Water flows in all directions and a contaminated water supply creates problems both upstream and downstream. No one is immune or isolated. Because we all share water supplies, we must all work together to guard it.

Sometimes big change comes from the smallest steps. Community engagement can start at the micro level. Volunteering, getting involved and educating communities about water management can make a huge difference. It doesn't have to cost billions. Between investing large amounts of time and money and doing something very simple and small, there are thousands of potential opportunities to improve your water supply.

This Earth Day we also need to think about how efficiently we use water

 References :

https://www.netafim.com/en/blog/lets-make-waters-role-in-sustainability-a-global-goal/