World Water Day, on March 22 every year, is about focusing attention on the importance of water. World Water Day 2020 is about water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. Adapting to the water effects of climate change will protect health and save lives.

As we commit ourselves today to respect planet Earth, let’s remember that without blue, there is no green. Water is an essential building block of life. It is more than just essential to quench thirst or protect health; water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic, social, and human development.

As the global population grows, so does the demand for water, which depletes natural resources and damages the environment in many places. Solutions include protecting carbon sinks such as oceans and wetlands, adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, and increasing the safe reuse of wastewater.

Water is our most precious resource – we must use it more responsibly. We must balance all of society’s water needs while ensuring the poorest people don’t get left behind.