The Intersection of Sustainable Development Goals and Water Conservation
Explore how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intersect with water conservation efforts, aiming to address poverty, education, health, and economic growth while preserving water resources for future generations. Discover the challenges and potential conflicts in achieving these goals, such as balancing economic growth in agriculture with reducing nutrient pollution to make rivers clean again.
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Chapter 1: Water is Essential for All Life The global impact of how we use water Lesson 4 Sustainable Development Goals and Water
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Sustainable Development Sustainable development uses resources to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations.
The United Nations has 17 goals (SDGs) that aim for the universal reduction of poverty, and the improvement of education, health, and economic growth, while tackling climate change and working to preserve our, oceans, forests, rivers and lakes. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Three goals relate directly to water and water habitats, but all 17 goals eventually overlap. 6 6 Sustainable Development Goal 6 6 6 15 15 14 14
Sustainable Development Goal 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2 Ch-aMqEY 2:26min
In 2023, 68 Irish Transition Year students were asked why is water quality important? All 68 students said it was important to have safe and clean water for good health.
SDGs are wide-ranging and inter-connected that some might conflict with others at first glance: To make our rivers clean again (SDG 6 & 15) would require us to reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture..... BUT that would mean that farmers would have to cut back on production, thus reducing economic growth in farming (SDG 8). To make our rivers clean again (SD15) would require us to reduce pollution from urban wastewater..... ......but that will require more money to upgrade treatment plants . who will pay? Task 4.1 These are just some potential conflicts, can you think of more? How would you resolve these conflicts?
SDGs are so wide-ranging and inter-connected that some might conflict with others at first glance: To make our rivers clean again (SDG 6 & 15) would require us to reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture..... BUT that would mean that farmers would have to cut back on production, thus reducing economic growth in farming (SDG 8). To make our rivers clean again (SD15) would require us to reduce pollution from urban wastewater..... BUT that will require more money to upgrade treatment plants . who will pay? New hydropower plants on rivers would create clean (carbon-free) energy (SDG 7 and 13).... BUT they will reduce the environmental quality of the rivers by forming barriers to fish migration Task 4.1 These conflicts are just some potential conflicts, can you think of more? How would you resolve them?
Source: United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/progress-chart/
By 2022, progress is being made to ensure everyone has safe drinking water BUT there is still a long way to go for everyone to have safe sanitation services. Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Access to safe drinking water services Access to safe sanitation services
How is Ireland doing in Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation for All? CSO, 2021
SDG Goal 6: By 2030 the United nations wants to: 6.1 Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. 6.2 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. 6.3 Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. 6.4 Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.5 Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. 6.6 Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
Consider & discuss how funding is allocated. Q. Is the balance right? Task 4.2 In 2021, Ireland s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Budget allocation to different sectors was ~ 516,729,000 (~1/2 billion). 2,282,000 was for Water & Sanitation. Graphic Source: https://www.irishaid.ie/media/irishaid/IrishAid_AR_2021_WEB_V5-FA.pdf
