World Water Day

22 March (international)

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. It is linked to National Water Week in South Africa. The UN Water group sets a theme every year. At Rhodes University, student environmental groups have organised World Water Day events - Pamphlet.

Theme for 2012: "Water and Food Security" - bearing in mind that water scarcity will undermine food security. The UN is calling for responses in four areas:

• Efficiency: calling for improved water management practices.
• Demand: calling for a change in our consumption patterns.
• Supply: improving agricultural productivity.
• Governance: revising international agreements.

Theme for 2011: "Water for Cities" - responding to the urban challenge. The aim is to draw attention to the impact on urban water systems by rapid urban population growth, industrialization, and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters.

More info: www.worldwaterday.org