Important Water Dates
Looking for inspiration? Plan your next water activity to coincide with one of the following dates. Use these websites to gather ideas and resources to help focus your initiative. Take action on a day or year when thousands of people around the world join together to work towards a common goal!
Water for Life Decade: 2005 – 2015
The “Water for Life” Decade aims to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015, placing special emphasis on the involvement of women in these efforts. The Millennium Development Goals set specific targets for reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women by 2015. Among these targets, Governments agreed to reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015.
World Water Day is intended to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The first World Water Day was held March 22, 1993. Each year, a specific aspect of freshwater is highlighted, and in 2009 it’s: "Shared Water – Shared Opportunities," focusing on transboundary waters.
World Toilet Organization (WTO) is a global non-profit organization committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide. WTO is also one of the few organizations to focus on toilets instead of water, which receives more attention and resources under the subject of sanitation. Founded in 2001 with 15 members, it now has 133 member organizations in 50 countries working towards eliminating the toilet taboo and delivering sustainable sanitation. WTO declared its founding day of November 19 as "World Toilet Day", increasing awareness and generating local action for better sanitation.
World Water Monitoring Day: September 18
World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. The month-long program kicks off each year on September 18. An easy-to-use test kit enables people to sample local water bodies for a core set of water quality parameters including temperature, acidity (pH), clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen.
International Year of Sanitation: 2008
To put the spotlight on sanitation, the UN General Assembly declared the year 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. The goal was to raise awareness and to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goal target to reduce by half the proportion of the 2.6 billion people without access to basic sanitation by 2015. Although 2008 has passed, the website has lots of useful resources.
As of 2009, World Oceans Day has been officially recognized by the United Nations after being celebrated unofficially around the world since 1992. The day allows us to recognize the importance of the world’s oceans and to ensure that they are protected for future generations. Visit Oceans and Fisheries Canada's World Oceans Day site and the David Suzuki Foundation for more info on events and celebrations.
Canadian Rivers Day: June 14, 2009
In 2002, the Canadian Ministry of Heritage proclaimed the second Sunday in June every year Canadian Rivers Day. Some suggested activities to participate in are: paddle-a-thons, a walk/bike ride along a river, or creating river artwork. By celebrating Canadian Rivers Day, participants help boost public knowledge about rivers and their vital importance to our planet.
For upcoming water-related conferences and events across Canada, visit the Canadian Water Network.
The Jane Goodall Institute is not responsible for the content of external websites.
