UN Water Development Report 2025

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March 24, 2025

UN Water Development Report 2025

The 2025 UN World Water Development Report (UN WWDR) titled “Mountains and Glaciers – Water Towers,”  emphasizes the growing risks posed by climate change to global water resources.

Key Highlights of the Report

  • Essential for billions: Mountain meltwater is crucial for drinking water, sanitation, food security, energy production, and environmental sustainability.
    • The report highlights that retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of 2 billion people worldwide. Accelerating glacier melt: Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt faster, making the water cycle more unpredictable and extreme.

World Water Day 2025

  • World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, raises awareness about the importance of sustainable water management and conservation.
  • Established by the United Nations in 1993, it highlights global water challenges and encourages action to ensure access to clean and safe water for all.

Objective: The primary goal of World Water Day is to:

  • Promote awareness about global water scarcity and pollution.
  • Encourage sustainable water management practices.
  • Advocate for policy changes and government action to protect water resources.
  • Support efforts for universal access to clean water.

Theme for 2025: Glacier Preservation

  • The 2025 theme, “Glacier Preservation,” emphasizes the crucial role of glaciers in maintaining the global freshwater supply. 
  • It highlights the threats posed by climate change and calls for urgent conservation measures.

  • Increased risks: Glacial retreat is intensifying floods, droughts, landslides, and sea-level rise, leading to devastating effects on people and ecosystems.
  • Need for action: The report stresses the importance of mitigating and adapting to rapid changes in frozen water resources.
  • Carbon emissions reduction: It strongly calls for an urgent reduction in carbon emissions to slow down glacial retreat.
  • Connection to SDGs: Conserving the cryosphere (frozen water resources) is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Impact of Rising Global Temperatures

  • All mountain ranges have experienced warming since the early 20th century.
  • More mountain precipitation is falling as rain instead of snow, causing snowpacks to thin and melt earlier in the year.
  • Short-term effects: Faster snowmelt initially increases river flow in glacier-fed basins and rivers.
  • Long-term effects: After exceeding a certain “peak water” threshold, river flow declines due to reduced glacier reserves.
    • The report provides strong evidence that this “peak water” point has already been passed in the tropical Andes, western Canada, and the Swiss Alps.

Impact on Agriculture and Water Supply

  • Two-thirds of all irrigated agriculture worldwide is expected to be affected by retreating glaciers and declining snowfall.
  • The climate crisis is reducing freshwater availability, threatening global food security and water resources.

This report underscores the urgent need for global action to protect glacier-fed water systems and mitigate climate change effects

About UN Water

  • UN-Water is the United Nations’ inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater and sanitation-related issues.
    • It brings together UN entities, international organizations, and key partners to ensure effective water resource management and sustainable use.
  • Establishment: UN-Water was established in 2003 to strengthen coordination and coherence among UN agencies working on water-related issues.
  • Objective: The primary goal of UN-Water is to support and accelerate progress on water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
  • Missions
    • Advancing Policy and Advocacy: Promotes global awareness on key water-related challenges.
    • Monitoring and Reporting: Tracks progress on water-related SDGs and provides data-driven insights.
    • Facilitating Coordination: Ensures harmonized efforts among UN agencies and partners for sustainable water management.
  • Reports Published
    • UN World Water Development Report (WWDR): Annual flagship report assessing global water challenges and solutions.
    • Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS): Provides insights into sanitation and drinking water progress.
    • The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 Synthesis Report: Evaluates global advancements in achieving SDG 6.

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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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