Toilet goals pushed
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The UN has used this week’s World Toilet Day to urge action on global targets.
World Toilet Day has been marked by calls for urgent action to address global sanitation challenges and meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which targets universal access to safe toilets by 2030.
The theme for this year, “Sanitation for Peace”, highlights the vital role of sanitation in creating a healthier, more equitable world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, 3.5 billion people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services.
This includes 419 million people still practising open defecation, exposing them to severe health risks such as cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Unsafe sanitation is responsible for approximately 1,000 child deaths every day, particularly in fragile contexts where children are at higher risk.
The UN warns that progress is alarmingly off track, with global targets for safe sanitation under threat from neglect, conflict, and climate change.
“Safe toilets for all by 2030 is a fundamental goal, but we need faster, concerted action to protect lives and dignity,” the UN said in a statement this week.
Conflict, extreme weather, and disasters were identified as key factors disrupting sanitation systems worldwide. These disruptions often result in untreated waste contaminating the environment, posing a direct threat to public health.
To combat this, the UN has called on governments to invest in resilient and inclusive sanitation infrastructure.
“Sanitation is a human right that not only ensures public health but also transforms lives, particularly for women and girls,” the UN campaign says.
The UN is using the momentum of World Toilet Day to foster international collaboration.
An event hosted at its New York headquarters on 18 November 2024 gathered representatives from Singapore, India, Senegal, and South Africa, alongside UN-Water and UNICEF, to discuss solutions.
Key objectives included promoting climate-resilient sanitation and mobilising political and financial commitments.
Water and sanitation issues are also being addressed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A report titled Water for Climate Mitigation, launched on 18 November, highlights the interdependency of water availability and climate solutions.
It calls for the integration of water management into strategic climate planning, particularly for clean energy transitions and carbon removal projects.
