The statistics state that 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Committing the world to ensuring safe water for everyone 2030, SDG6 can convene all stakeholders to contribute to a target on protecting natural resources and reducing pollution as this goal covers the entire water cycle and cuts across social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. SDG6 is also essential for meeting other goals on food, energy, biodiversity, etc.

#ActOnGoal6 is one of the global campaigns of GWP network, GWP China Region, jointly with other twelve Regions in Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa, has dedicated to the promotion and implementation of SDGs at the national level.

The most repetitive outcome is facilitating member countries on their reports to UN agencies on Indicator 6.5.1 integrated water resources management (IWRM). IWRM is a tool to enable states to provide a dialogue between the sectors that are dependent on water, and when water is scarce, this can lead to conflicts, and IWRM is a tool to resolve such disputes.

IWRM plays a critical role in water governance, security of the environment, food, energy and ecosystem, as well as social & economic progress in a sustainable manner.  The Most Stringent Water Management System issued in 2011. According to the System, water management is not an obligation to a single authority or some particular groups any longer. Instead, it would affect economic growth, environmental protection and food security. Thus, it calls for coordination among all stakeholders for implementing the System and improving legal systems to facilitate implementation at each level. SDG6 is supportive for governments to review pros & cons and create/ optimise mechanisms for coordination among various sectors.

GWP China, relying on its academic partner, World Resources Institute (WRI), has been active in promoting SDG6 at national and regional levels for collaboration or full participation of management institutions/team. 

On 22 March 2018, GWP China, with GWPO and partners, kicks off #ActOnSDG6 campaign that targets at facilitating stakeholders via our multiple stakeholder partnerships which can speed up the coordinated action when is needed. 

While celebrating the World Water Day and raising “Nature for Water”, we are calling for your attention as well as other decision-makers’ to water management actions which refer to integration across sectors and further investments in water for a healthy and sustainable natural environment. GWP’s multi-stakeholder partnerships can speed up the coordinated action that is needed.