A debate on World Water Day has been scheduled for Thursday 18 March 2021 in the Commons Chamber. The subject for the debate has been selected by the Backbench Business Committee and has been initiated by Navendu Mishra MP.
World Water Day 2021 (529 KB , PDF)
Summary
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance day which focuses on the importance of freshwater. It has been held since 1993. The event is coordinated by UN-Water and led by one or more of its Members and Partners. World Water 2021 will take place on 22 March. This year’s theme is valuing water.
The aim of World Water Day is to celebrate water but also to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people in the world that lack access to safe water.[1] A key aspect of World Water day is supporting the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) which is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
[1] UN-Water, World Water Day 2021 Tool Kit,
World Water Day 2021 (529 KB , PDF)
The UN has a target for countries to spend 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2013, the UK achieved this target for the first time. Since 2015, the Government has also been under a statutory duty to meet it. However, citing the economic impact of the pandemic, the Government will spend 0.5 percent of GNI for ODA in 2021 as a “temporary measure.”
For the first time since 2013, the UK will not meet the UN target of spending 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA). This briefing sets out how UK aid spending compares to previous years, the Government’s objectives for UK aid, and what is known about the spending reduction’s impact on specific aid and humanitarian programmes and on countries.
There will be a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on 8 June 2021 to mark World Oceans Day.
