Safeguarding clean water access as climate threats rise – UN News

International Commitment to Advance Sustainable Development Goals through Enhanced Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Systems

Addressing Critical Deficiencies in European WASH Infrastructure

A recent United Nations-led meeting in Budapest has highlighted significant challenges in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure across the pan-European region, directly impacting the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over 40 countries have adopted a new programme to build more resilient and equitable WASH systems, acknowledging the critical link between these services and public well-being.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The World Health Organization (WHO) has underscored the risk posed by inadequate WASH services in healthcare settings, where vulnerable populations are at risk of harm instead of healing. This situation presents a direct obstacle to achieving SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

• Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated that without adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene, “expected care can become inadvertent harm.”
• Bolstering healthcare facilities with robust WASH infrastructure is considered a critical investment in crisis preparedness and resilience.

Current Status of WASH Access and its Relation to SDG 6

Significant gaps in access to basic services persist, undermining progress towards SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Key statistics for the region include:

• 118 million people are served by healthcare facilities lacking basic sanitation.
• 70 million people lack access to safely managed drinking water.
• 185 million people do not have access to safe sanitation services.

The Protocol on Water and Health: A Framework for SDG Achievement

Multilateral Cooperation for Strong Institutions (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

The 7th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health, co-led by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and WHO, serves as a primary vehicle for international cooperation. The Protocol is the only legally binding international treaty that explicitly links water governance, environmental protection, and public health, providing a robust framework for achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Practical Tools for Implementation

The Protocol provides member states with evidence-based resources to translate commitments into tangible improvements, supporting a range of SDGs.

1. Equitable Access Scorecard: This tool helps countries assess and improve equity in access to water and sanitation, directly supporting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
2. Water Safety Planning: In use in over 30 countries, this resource helps manage risks to drinking water supplies.
3. Wastewater Monitoring: Systems are being implemented to monitor wastewater for dangerous viruses, including COVID-19, enhancing public health surveillance (SDG 3).
4. Safe Water in Schools: Efforts focus on ensuring safe water, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene in educational settings, which is crucial for SDG 4 (Quality Education).
5. Carbon-Neutral Water Services: The development of plans for climate-friendly water services contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Integrating WASH with Climate Action and the Broader SDG Agenda

Building Resilience to Climate Change (SDG 13)

The report acknowledges that WASH services are increasingly disrupted by climate-related threats such as droughts and floods, as well as cyber threats. In response, UNECE has urged governments to position water and sanitation systems at the core of their climate resilience strategies, a key component of achieving SDG 13.

Synergies Across the Sustainable Development Goals

The interconnected nature of the SDGs was a central theme. As stated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “Progress on water and sanitation supports progress across multiple Sustainable Development Goals.” The initiatives under the Protocol on Water and Health demonstrate that targeted action on SDG 6 creates positive cascading effects on goals related to health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), inequality (SDG 10), and climate action (SDG 13), reinforcing the indivisible nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly links water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to health outcomes. It begins by stating that without adequate WASH, “expected care can become inadvertent harm” in healthcare facilities. It also discusses monitoring wastewater for dangerous viruses like COVID-19 and tackling Legionella bacteria, which are public health concerns.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the central theme of the article. The entire text revolves around the “Protocol on Water and Health” and the efforts of over 40 countries to build resilient “water, sanitation and hygiene systems.” It explicitly quantifies the problem by stating that millions of people in Europe lack access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article mentions that concrete measures under the Protocol include efforts “to ensure safe water, sanitation and menstrual hygiene in schools,” which is essential for creating a safe and effective learning environment, particularly for girls.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The text notes that the international agreement has “helped inform policies in schools, hospitals and urban planning.” This connection to urban planning indicates an effort to build resilient and sustainable community infrastructure.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article highlights the increasing disruption of services due to “droughts, floods” and urges governments “to put water and sanitation systems at the core of climate resilience,” directly linking WASH infrastructure to climate change adaptation.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is framed around international cooperation. It describes a “UN-led meeting,” the adoption of a programme by “more than 40 countries,” and the joint leadership of the Protocol by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This exemplifies multilateral cooperation to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases. The article’s focus on preventing harm in healthcare facilities and monitoring wastewater for viruses directly relates to combating water-borne and communicable diseases.
  • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The mention of boosting “disease surveillance” and monitoring for viruses like COVID-19 and Legionella aligns with this target.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article explicitly mentions that “70 million lack access to safely managed drinking water.”
  • Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. The article highlights that “118 million people in Europe whose healthcare facilities lack basic sanitation” and “185 million do not have safe sanitation.”
  • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The Protocol on Water and Health is described as a tool for “water governance” and an example of “multilateral cooperation.”

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The article’s mention of ensuring “safe water, sanitation and menstrual hygiene in schools” directly supports this target.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article’s call to make water and sanitation systems resilient to “droughts, floods” and place them “at the core of climate resilience” is a direct reference to this target.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries. The entire article, discussing the Protocol co-led by UNECE and WHO and adopted by over 40 countries, is an example of this partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for SDG 6.1.1: The number of people lacking access to safely managed drinking water, specifically cited as “70 million” in the pan-European region.
• Indicator for SDG 6.2.1: The number of people lacking access to safely managed sanitation, cited as “185 million” in the region.
• Indicator for WASH in institutions: The number of people whose “healthcare facilities lack basic sanitation,” which is given as “118 million.” This is a specific measure of progress for WASH in healthcare settings (related to SDG 3 and SDG 6).
• Indicator of policy implementation: The number of countries that have adopted the programme, mentioned as “more than 40 countries.” This measures political will and partnership (SDG 17).
• Indicator of monitoring and assessment: The number of assessments conducted, stated as “at least 1,500 facility assessments” supported by the Protocol. This measures the effort to gather data and inform policy.
• Implied Indicator for disease surveillance (SDG 3): The practice of “monitoring wastewater for dangerous viruses.” Progress could be measured by the number of municipalities or countries implementing such surveillance systems.
• Implied Indicator for climate resilience (SDG 13): The development of “plans for carbon-neutral water services.” The number of such plans developed and implemented would be a measure of progress.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.un.org