The UN’s Commission on Science and Technology for Development will address the role of science, technology, and innovation in resolving the worldwide water and sanitation crisis in its 26th annual session. The use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things in monitoring water and sanitation infrastructure can accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6. Global partnerships and cooperation among various stakeholders are crucial in achieving this goal. Enrique Cabrera, Vice President of the International Water Association, emphasized the importance of adapting water solutions to local conditions. Innovative technology adoption and collaboration among industry, academia, and government stakeholders can pioneer transformative solutions to make sanitation services inclusive and safe for all, particularly women and girls. Ad-hoc solutions are required to determine the best use of the latest technologies and how to optimize the use of existing financial resources.
The worldwide water and sanitation crisis can be resolved by employing science, technology, and innovation (STI), according to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Currently, around 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, while 5.4 billion do not have access to safely managed sanitation services, as reported by UN-Water. World Water Day, celebrated on March 23, aims to promote awareness and motivate action towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which is to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.
The report emphasized that the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can expedite progress towards SDG 6 and help mitigate climate change, as the demand for freshwater is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030. By monitoring water and sanitation infrastructure, frontier technologies can accelerate the achievement of SDG 6.
To increase the use of STI in addressing the global water and sanitation crisis, the United Nations’ Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will focus on the issue during its 26th annual session from March 27 to 31. UNCTAD will assist the CSTD in developing synergies between UN-wide initiatives aimed at leveraging STI for development, including SDG 6.
According to Enrique Cabrera, Vice President of the International Water Association and a Professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain, the combination of open digital tools, capacity-building, and international standards and frameworks is critical in scaling up efforts towards SDG 6. Cabrera emphasized the importance of adapting water solutions to local conditions since one size will not fit all.
Innovative technology adoption and collaboration among various stakeholders are also essential in accelerating progress towards SDG 6. Doulaye Kone, Deputy Director of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, stressed the importance of cooperation among industry, academia, and government stakeholders in China, India, Senegal, and South Africa. They are pioneering transformative solutions to make sanitation services inclusive and safe for all, particularly women and girls.
The 26th annual session of the United Nations’ Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will feature a high-level panel on ensuring safe water and sanitation, with Sucharit Koontanakulvong, a distinguished scholar in water resources management at Chulalangkorn University in Thailand. Koontanakulvong emphasized the use of early warning systems utilizing drone technologies or deeply integrated earth observation systems in disaster threat prediction and mitigation. Solutions such as smart metering can also enhance the efficiency of existing water and sanitation systems.
Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s Director for Technology and Logistics and Head of the CSTD Secretariat, highlighted that access to safe water and sanitation is still a challenge in developing countries, worsened by climate change and increased pressure on water, food, and energy resources. The CSTD will continue to serve as the UN system’s focal point for knowledge-sharing, consensus-building, and securing synergies between UN-wide initiatives to leverage STI for development, including SDG 6.
In conclusion, tackling the global water and sanitation crisis requires the adoption of new technologies, global partnerships, and cooperation among various stakeholders. Ad-hoc solutions tailored to each local situation are necessary to determine the best use of the latest technologies and how to optimize the use of existing financial resources. With the acceleration of STI adoption and collaboration, there is hope that the global water and sanitation crisis will be effectively addressed.
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