Every 22 March we mark World Water Day, a reminder of the importance of caring for a resource on which the life of every community depends. This year the day is held under the theme “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”, placing the focus on its strategic importance for the environment, for society and for the economy[1]. For all that we use it daily, the reality faced around the world is a cause for concern: according to the United Nations, three in every ten people lack access to safe drinking water services, and six in ten lack access to safely managed sanitation[2].
Sustainable Development Goal 6 — water and sanitation for all by 2030 — should spur institutions to confront the global water supply crisis by strengthening public policy aimed at making clean water accessible to everyone, without distinction.
Caring for water cannot remain a matter of official rhetoric alone. Private companies too must align on including measures that make water and natural resources a priority, because according to UNESCO the planet will face a 40% water deficit by 2030 if consumption patterns do not change.
As a business school specialising in corporate social responsibility, CMI Business School places the care of natural resources at the heart of what it teaches, training environmentally responsible people and encouraging them to optimise industrial processes, to reuse, and to adopt habits that have a positive impact on the environment.
How to be more eco-friendly
Global trends have shifted, and the move towards a circular economy is an increasingly present reality. Research by GlobalWebIndex found that 61% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable, environmentally friendly products — a sign that younger generations feel a stronger commitment to the planet.
This sense of civic responsibility is worth encouraging, so here are three suggestions for joining the movement:
- Invest in sustainable education. Training is the key to success. If we want to be environmentally responsible, we have to learn how, and then apply what we learn in our own working lives.
- Be conscious of how you use water. Turn off the tap while soaping your hands or brushing your teeth: a running tap uses as much as 12 litres a minute.
- Use your appliances efficiently. Set times for doing the laundry and run full loads — you will save both water and energy.
You can find more information about World Water Day 2022 on the UNESCO website.
By Laura Minyetty. Graduate in Social Communication and Public Relations, and a student on the Master in Responsible Marketing and International Trade Management at CMI Business School.
