The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is on Wednesday observing World Water Day, 2023 lamenting the fact that progress has been “woefully slow” in implementing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 regarding water and sanitation for all by 2030
In a statement, the St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said that it is observing the occasion under the theme “Accelerating change to solve the global water and sanitation crises” even as it noted that in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda, the world committed to SDG 6.
“Unfortunately, the progress to date has been woefully slow. The OECS Commission recognizes the need to accelerate progress in water and sanitation throughout the region and is implementing projects with various partners to enhance water security through the installation of water infrastructure and the support of healthy and resilient biodiversity and ecosystems.”
The Commission said while the region’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are surrounded by serene bodies of water, there are threats to freshwater for drinking, cooking, washing, hygiene, and sanitation.
“Due to the interconnected nature of our islands’ landscapes, activities in upper watershed areas inevitably impact rivers, aquifers, and ultimately, the coastal and marine environment. “Unsustainable practices in agriculture, construction and industry contribute to pollution of waterways, while indiscriminate use of water increases the demand for already scarce resources.”
The OECS Commission said projections of reduced rainfall and increased temperatures as a result of climate change will impact the amount of water that can be collected and stored in aquifers, rivers, lakes, and dams.
“If freshwater becomes unavailable, seawater can be desalinated by some countries to produce potable water; however, this process is energy-intensive, driving up the cost of production of water, and this cost may be transferred to the consumer.
“With an anticipated increase in population, change in consumption patterns, and increased food demands, water demand is expected to increase. It is therefore critical to consider integrated management of land and water resources for sustainable development within SIDS.”
The Integrated Landscape Approaches and Investments in Sustainable Land Management in the OECS Project (ILM) and the Biodiversity Support for ACP Coastal Environments Project (BioSPACE), are both funded by the European Union, and they include the development of policies as well as the implementation of on the ground interventions to enhance water quality and contribute to healthy and resilient ecosystems.
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