Clean water and sanitation
One in three people live without sanitation, causing unnecessary disease and death. Although significant strides have been made in providing access to clean drinking water, the lack of sanitation undermines these advances. By providing affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.
Goal 6 is grounded in the recognition that access to safe water and sanitation is fundamental to public health, human dignity, food security, and economic productivity. It treats water not merely as a service, but as a shared resource whose governance reflects broader inequalities in power, infrastructure, and environmental management.
The goal addresses systemic challenges including inadequate infrastructure, water pollution, ecosystem degradation, inefficient allocation, and weak regulatory oversight. It also confronts emerging pressures linked to climate change, rapid urbanisation, population growth, and transboundary water disputes. Sanitation remains a particularly acute gap, with profound consequences for health, education, and gender equality.
Coordination at global level involves mechanisms such as UN Water, while implementation is supported by organisations including WaterAid. Smaller actors such as Charity: Water, community-based water user associations, and local utilities play a decisive role in service delivery and accountability.
Significant progress has been made in expanding access to basic drinking water, yet sanitation coverage and wastewater treatment lag far behind. These disparities are highlighted annually on World Water Day (22 March) and World Toilet Day (19 November). Recent news has drawn attention to drought stress in Southern Europe, East Africa, and South America, as well as legal disputes over river basins and groundwater extraction.
GSN frames water security as a strategic environmental and geopolitical issue rather than a purely technical one.
TARGETS
Everyone can contribute to achieving the Global Goals. By focusing on these targets, meaningful action can be taken to create significant impacts across various areas. This approach encourages collaboration and collective efforts to address critical issues, ensuring that no one is left behind.
