Why Is World Water Day Important?

Water is a human right – it’s vital for us to stay alive. Yet around the world, 2.2 billion people are living without safe access to it, which is having a devastating impact. And the problem is only getting worse as climate change progresses, with extreme weather events making water more scarce and more polluted. That’s why World Water Day is so important: an initiative created to raise awareness about the global water crisis. It’s returning this March, focusing this year on the theme of glacier preservation; here’s how you can get involved.

World Water Day 2025: Theme, History & How To Help

What Is World Water Day?

World Water Day was first introduced by the United Nations (UN) in 1993 in order to bring attention to the issues surrounding water scarcity. Its key aims were – and still are – to encourage sustainable water usage, promote solutions to water-related problems, and make clean water accessible to people all over the world. 

Although 71 percent of the Earth is covered in water, 96.5 percent of that is saltwater, leaving just 3.5 percent of freshwater – and only 1 percent of that is consumable by humans. And as global warming increasingly depletes our supplies, demand is surging as populations continue to grow.

As a result, billions of people lack access to clean drinking water, resulting in widespread health problems including exposure to diseases like cholera and typhoid fever, and causing high rates of child mortality. ‘There is evidence to suggest that the number of people living without clean water is reducing – however, there is still more work to be done, and on a huge scale,’ says Duncan Goose,  founder of ethical hydration brand One Water.

The water crisis is also affecting landscapes and wildlife: ecosystems are being destroyed, rivers are becoming polluted, and over half the world’s wetlands have disappeared all together. ‘The day recognises that the issues are not confined to water access for people: the UN is now recognising over-arching issues related to climate change – specifically those related to droughts and flooding,’ says Goose. ‘You don’t have to look at the news too often to see the impacts of both: for example, significant crop failure leading to malnutrition, or communities being wiped out due to floods.’

When Is World Water Day?

World Water Day takes place every year on 22 March.

What Is The Theme For 2025?

The theme for 2025 is glacier preservation. Glaciers are essential for life on earth: they reflect heat back into space, keeping the planet cooler, as well as storing a significant portion of the world’s freshwater, feeding lakes and rivers and sustaining ecosystems. However, they are melting rapidly as the Earth heats up. 

‘The World Meteorological Organisation states that 70 percent of the world’s freshwater is locked in glaciers,’ says Goose. ‘Antarctica is losing an average of 150 billion tonnes of ice mass every year. The Greenland ice cap is melting even faster – losing 270 billion tonnes per year. To put that in perspective, that combined total ice melt in just one year is the equivalent of a wall of ice five metres high, covering Portugal. It doesn’t take much to imagine the impact on global water levels if glaciers were all to disappear.’

Melting glaciers are already having a profound impact on people and the planet: sea levels are rising, weather patterns are being disrupted, wildlife are losing their homes, and coastal communities are being threatened. Saving them, therefore, is a crucial part of tackling the climate crisis.

Previous themes have included:

• Leveraging water for peace
• Accelerating change
• Groundwater
• Valuing water
• Water and climate change

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How Can We Help With The Water Crisis?

Preserve water in our homes

Being conscious about our personal water usage can make a big difference. Simple ways to cut down include switching from baths to showers, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, and filling up the kettle less. 

Reduce your carbon footprint

Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, which is causing the glaciers to melt, so anything we can do to cut our carbon footprint helps. Consider reducing your meat intake (particularly beef), flying less, eating locally sourced produce and switching to a renewable energy source at home.

Donate to charities

Numerous charities are working to provide clean water access to those in need, such as WaterAid, Water.org and Oxfam. All donations help the cause – and some have volunteering opportunities too.

Join a river clean

Take part in a local clean to help support our rivers, lakes, oceans and beaches. 

Tune into World Water Day talks

The UN is running a series of talks throughout the day on 22 March, many of which you can tune into online. Find the full programme here.

For more information visit unwater.org