World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22 since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater. A central point of the campaign is to support the realization of Sustainable Development Goal number 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. This day aims to raise awareness about the 2.2 billion people who live without access to clean drinking water.
In 2025, the chosen theme for the campaign is “Preservation of Glaciers.” Glacial meltwaters are essential for life, serving needs such as drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production, and healthy ecosystems. The accelerated melting of glaciers is causing uncertainty in water flows, bringing profound impacts on the lives of people and the planet.
Global reductions in carbon emissions and local strategies for adapting to shrinking glaciers are crucial. It is necessary to work together to place the preservation of glaciers at the center of plans addressing climate change and the global water crisis.
Key messages for World Water Day 2025 include: glaciers are melting faster than ever; as the planet heats up from climate change, the frozen world is shrinking, making the water cycle more unpredictable and extreme. Glacial retreat is a threat of devastation; for billions of people, the flows of melted water are changing, leading to floods, droughts, landslides, sea level rise, and damaging ecosystems.
The preservation of glaciers is a strategy for survival. There is a need to work in parallel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage meltwater more sustainably for both people and the environment. Every year, on World Water Day, the United Nations - Water releases its main report on water and sanitation, exploring the same theme and providing policy recommendations to decision-makers, offering best practices and in-depth analyses.
The 2025 edition is titled “Water Towers: mountains and glaciers.” Water is a fundamental natural resource for life. All existing ecosystems and human activities depend directly or indirectly on water. Yet, its importance goes beyond mere survival; it is the foundation for the prosperity of communities and entire nations.
Access to clean water and adequate sanitation is crucial for ensuring public health, curbing disease spread, and promoting human dignity. Investing in water and sanitation infrastructure is not just a public health issue but also a matter of sustainable development. Ensuring universal access to clean water and basic sanitation can improve the quality of life for millions, reduce poverty, promote gender equality, and strengthen local economies.
Furthermore, efficient water and sanitation systems play a crucial role in environmental preservation, helping to protect aquatic ecosystems and ensuring water availability for future generations. This truth alone highlights the necessity of management processes for this invaluable resource.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if there is no success in promoting more efficient water use, demand may exceed supply by 40% by 2030. Additionally, the UN states that if the demand for freshwater continues without preservation efforts, around 1.8 billion people will live in areas with absolute water scarcity in 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicates that water scarcity affects almost all continents and more than 40% of the global population. Recent data on basic sanitation in Brazil shows significant progress, but also highlights persistent challenges. It is crucial for the country to continue investing in infrastructure and public policies to ensure all communities have access to dignified living conditions and sanitation, thereby promoting the well-being and quality of life of all Brazilians.
In commemoration of World Water Day 2025, the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) hosted a ceremony at its headquarters in Brasília. The event addressed advances made in water management and the challenges faced by the sector, projecting a future of innovation, sustainability, and commitment to water security and basic sanitation in Brazil. The ceremony is available on ANA's YouTube channel!
World Water Day is a significant date when we reflect on one of the planet's most precious natural resources: water. This date was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1992 during the UN Conference on Environment and Development to increase global awareness about the importance of freshwater, the sustainable management of water resources, and the need to ensure universal access to this vital resource.
Water is essential for life on our planet. It plays a crucial role in various natural processes, such as climate regulation, agriculture, industry, and the survival of all living beings. Additionally, it is vital for the functioning of ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but only a small fraction (about 2.5%) is freshwater, which is what we use for drinking, agriculture, industry, and other essential activities. However, despite its abundance on Earth, drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce in many parts of the world.
Water pollution, waste, destruction of aquatic ecosystems, and climate change threaten the availability and quality of water. For many, access to clean and safe water remains a daily challenge.
World Water Day 2025 will carry the theme “Accelerating Change”. This focus emphasizes accelerating the necessary transformations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which aims to guarantee the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
This theme draws attention to the urgent need for actions at global, national, and local levels to combat water scarcity, reduce waste, improve water resource management, and promote equal access to drinking water. Society needs to adopt a new consumption paradigm, prioritizing practices that ensure the preservation of aquatic ecosystems and the regeneration of water resources.
While World Water Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of this resource, it is also a time to identify the challenges faced by many regions of the world regarding water. Among the primary challenges are:
- Water scarcity: In various parts of the world, the demand for water exceeds supply. Water scarcity affects billions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and certain areas of Asia and Latin America.
- Water pollution: Pollution from industrial waste, domestic sewage, and chemicals affects water quality and represents a serious risk to public health and the environment.
- Climate change: Changes in climate are impacting precipitation patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme events, such as droughts and floods, exacerbating the availability of drinking water and the resilience of ecosystems.
- Inequality in access to water: Despite being a fundamental human right, many people worldwide lack access to potable water and basic sanitation, which represents a significant obstacle to human development and the improvement of living conditions.
- Water waste: In many parts of the world, water use is extremely inefficient. Agriculture, for instance, is responsible for around 70% of global freshwater consumption, and a large part of this water is wasted due to inadequate agricultural practices.
Education about water preservation is fundamental for future generations to understand the importance of this resource and adopt more sustainable habits. World Water Day is an excellent opportunity to promote awareness campaigns, encourage responsible water use, and foster initiatives aimed at preserving water bodies.
Some simple actions that everyone can adopt include reducing water waste: turning off the tap while brushing teeth, fixing leaks, and opting for shorter showers are ways to reduce daily water consumption. Additionally, reusing water: using rainwater for watering plants, washing cars, or other non-potable purposes helps to preserve potable water.
Preserving aquatic ecosystems: avoiding littering and polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans is crucial for the health of aquatic ecosystems. Investing in sustainable technologies: utilizing efficient irrigation technologies, wastewater treatment, and water reuse are alternatives that help reduce pressure on water resources.
In addition to adopting more responsible practices in our daily water use, we can support projects and public policies aimed at the sustainable management of water resources. Community actions and the involvement of governments and businesses are essential to ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water.
It is also important to urge authorities to implement effective water management policies, promote conservation, and encourage innovation in solutions that improve water use and distribution.
World Water Day serves as a reminder that water is a right for all, and we must work together to ensure its preservation and universal access.
Ultimately, World Water Day is a date to celebrate the importance of this resource and, at the same time, reflect on the challenges we still face to ensure that freshwater is accessible and safe for everyone. On March 22, 2025, it is essential for each of us to commit to adopting more sustainable practices, educating others about the importance of water, and demanding effective public policies to protect this precious asset. By doing our part, we can help preserve water for future generations and ensure a more just and sustainable future for all. Water is life, and its protection should be a global priority.
