World Water Day 2024

Early day motion 491, tabled 11 March 2024 by Virendra Sharma (Labour). Signed by 25 members.

That this House recognises that 22 March is World Water Day; acknowledges that 2.2 billion people in the world do not have safe water and 3.5 billion people in the world do not have a decent toilet of their own; notes that two-thirds of healthcare facilities in the 46 least developed countries do not have access to basic handwashing facilities; further recognises that women and girls are disproportionately affected by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); further notes that that WASH is an essential component in work on addressing global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance; further acknowledges that the climate crisis is a water crisis and that investment in WASH provides a cost-effective adaptation measure to support communities on the front lines of climate change; notes that the UK’s budget for WASH has been cut by approximately 77% since 2018, damaging the UK’s ability to reach communities with life-saving clean water; is concerned that with just six years to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, progress on SDG6 is alarmingly off-track, and so and calls on the Government to increase investment in WASH and champion WASH on a global stage.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 8, Labour 7, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 2, Liberal Democrat 2, DUP 1, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.