Reflecting on the UN 2023 Water Conference and all its meetings, new initiatives, and publications, I believe one report will be the most impactful. It's the landmark report Turning the Tide, launched during the conference by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water.
Some change in everyone’s access to drinkable water and sanitation is slowly happening. I want to have optimistic views and hope as Lizzie does that by the time of the next report significant progress and cooperation happens among protagonists.
This is a clear and concise summary of “Turning the Tide,” the event I live-streamed during the Water Conference and was pleased to review in your article once again. The seven goals are well stated requiring much work to be done quickly. The urgency is apparent; the money 💰 to achieve the goals by 2030 is available and not nearly so prohibitive as other SDGs. From my perspective in the USA 🇺🇸 , inadequate infrastructure, misplaced subsidies, usage of fresh water that could be redirected, absence to my knowledge of recycling wastewater, and the failure of governance to act predictably above and beyond nationalistic ideals are among the hurdles to progress in this essential area. “Failure to Imagine” comes to mind as rarely if ever does the MSM focus on this issue unless in the context of extreme weather events which are becoming more common. Now as Spring is upon us in the SE the first obvious challenge (from my window to the world) is to change the life long habits of homeowners behaviors in lawn maintenance, trying every year to groom carpets of grass requiring fertilizer, toxic “weed” killers, and watering during dry spells; instead of embracing natural habitat. Alternative “sustainable “ gardening practices are available but change is difficult especially in times of stress, ie political upheaval. Your dedication and focus in this area can only be positive in effecting change! You have my attention, my support and admiration for the work you have done thus far; so very well done! 💦🌍🕊️
I read the report and re-watched that YouTube video for yesterday's podcast. I don't think I've come across a report with such a clear message, with clear calls to action and one that makes it so obvious that we are in this together. No country is an island. Even though Switzerland likes to think we are. Still have to write my newsletter on how renewable water really is. Also it puts water at the center because all SDGs are dependent on the world delivering on SDG 6.
Thank you for the summary - I'm really hopeful that we ARE turning the tide now. A lot of things that go in the right direction seem to be happening.
I’ll be looking forward to your newsletter on SDG #6! 💦While the best of us in the USA recognize we are part of a global community with common problems, the worst of us, dare I be precise: the MAGA cult of the former president is creating havoc after his indictment finally on the first of many charges has landed in the MSM and “weaponization” of the government is their rallying cry. How absurd! Problem is it’s taking all the attention and oxygen out of newscasts so great ideals like this one receive little if any. American problems are not unlike other democracies on the verge of either victory or defeat from within. I will not survive in Fascism but my survival is limited in any case by health issues;
trying to turn some apathetic on line folks to my way of thinking after reading, paying attention, while so many bury their heads in the sand or know not how to fight like the SOLDIERS FOR DEMOCRACY we need to be. I feel so lucky to have found in Substack people who I now think of as friends (like yourself, just say no if I’m reaching here!🥹). Strangely enough my on line presence has been mostly Facebook high school friends, remote relatives, etc. Trying to influence any substantive conversations there is useless! Much to my surprise, my first comment on Substack generated 350 likes! As a wannabe writer from my sofa by necessity, that was encouraging, so I will continue to pull my writing skills out of mothballs, struggle to be focused and avoid redundancy, as I was years ago. I so enjoy your “humanness”; you are indeed a beautiful person. IDEA 💡 : did you catch during Water Week the post about the number of liters of water (HUGE) required to make one pair of jeans? Not to even mention the likely abuse of tiny fingers involved! My thought about a newsletter on “clothing” started during fashion month and recycling/ rewearing is an interest that persists. Would you have any interest in doing one together? Just a thought. 😘
Thank you, Lizzie! An idea I’ve played with but to be honest, I’m not sure my health will allow. Very limited energy, mobility. Could not manage consistently. At present, more comfortable responding to several paid subscriptions. Enjoy interacting with others, partial to those in agreement with my values. Don’t have the stamina for debate. It’s an outlet being homebound with no community involvement possible except on line. Sort of like still living in Covid world although others have escaped! Yes, I am jealous of those traveling, getting out in nature. How I would enjoy! I’ll keep pulling out old skills and see where I land. I appreciate your comment 🥹
Thank you for distilling and enumerating for us those seven key recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and civil society organizations! They seem doable. That "by 2030, global demand is expected to outstrip the supply of fresh water by 40 percent," should really be a wake-up call.
Some change in everyone’s access to drinkable water and sanitation is slowly happening. I want to have optimistic views and hope as Lizzie does that by the time of the next report significant progress and cooperation happens among protagonists.
This is a clear and concise summary of “Turning the Tide,” the event I live-streamed during the Water Conference and was pleased to review in your article once again. The seven goals are well stated requiring much work to be done quickly. The urgency is apparent; the money 💰 to achieve the goals by 2030 is available and not nearly so prohibitive as other SDGs. From my perspective in the USA 🇺🇸 , inadequate infrastructure, misplaced subsidies, usage of fresh water that could be redirected, absence to my knowledge of recycling wastewater, and the failure of governance to act predictably above and beyond nationalistic ideals are among the hurdles to progress in this essential area. “Failure to Imagine” comes to mind as rarely if ever does the MSM focus on this issue unless in the context of extreme weather events which are becoming more common. Now as Spring is upon us in the SE the first obvious challenge (from my window to the world) is to change the life long habits of homeowners behaviors in lawn maintenance, trying every year to groom carpets of grass requiring fertilizer, toxic “weed” killers, and watering during dry spells; instead of embracing natural habitat. Alternative “sustainable “ gardening practices are available but change is difficult especially in times of stress, ie political upheaval. Your dedication and focus in this area can only be positive in effecting change! You have my attention, my support and admiration for the work you have done thus far; so very well done! 💦🌍🕊️
I read the report and re-watched that YouTube video for yesterday's podcast. I don't think I've come across a report with such a clear message, with clear calls to action and one that makes it so obvious that we are in this together. No country is an island. Even though Switzerland likes to think we are. Still have to write my newsletter on how renewable water really is. Also it puts water at the center because all SDGs are dependent on the world delivering on SDG 6.
Thank you for the summary - I'm really hopeful that we ARE turning the tide now. A lot of things that go in the right direction seem to be happening.
I’ll be looking forward to your newsletter on SDG #6! 💦While the best of us in the USA recognize we are part of a global community with common problems, the worst of us, dare I be precise: the MAGA cult of the former president is creating havoc after his indictment finally on the first of many charges has landed in the MSM and “weaponization” of the government is their rallying cry. How absurd! Problem is it’s taking all the attention and oxygen out of newscasts so great ideals like this one receive little if any. American problems are not unlike other democracies on the verge of either victory or defeat from within. I will not survive in Fascism but my survival is limited in any case by health issues;
trying to turn some apathetic on line folks to my way of thinking after reading, paying attention, while so many bury their heads in the sand or know not how to fight like the SOLDIERS FOR DEMOCRACY we need to be. I feel so lucky to have found in Substack people who I now think of as friends (like yourself, just say no if I’m reaching here!🥹). Strangely enough my on line presence has been mostly Facebook high school friends, remote relatives, etc. Trying to influence any substantive conversations there is useless! Much to my surprise, my first comment on Substack generated 350 likes! As a wannabe writer from my sofa by necessity, that was encouraging, so I will continue to pull my writing skills out of mothballs, struggle to be focused and avoid redundancy, as I was years ago. I so enjoy your “humanness”; you are indeed a beautiful person. IDEA 💡 : did you catch during Water Week the post about the number of liters of water (HUGE) required to make one pair of jeans? Not to even mention the likely abuse of tiny fingers involved! My thought about a newsletter on “clothing” started during fashion month and recycling/ rewearing is an interest that persists. Would you have any interest in doing one together? Just a thought. 😘
Let's talk about that. Could be fun, interesting etc.
Definitely, yes!
Thank you, Lizzie! An idea I’ve played with but to be honest, I’m not sure my health will allow. Very limited energy, mobility. Could not manage consistently. At present, more comfortable responding to several paid subscriptions. Enjoy interacting with others, partial to those in agreement with my values. Don’t have the stamina for debate. It’s an outlet being homebound with no community involvement possible except on line. Sort of like still living in Covid world although others have escaped! Yes, I am jealous of those traveling, getting out in nature. How I would enjoy! I’ll keep pulling out old skills and see where I land. I appreciate your comment 🥹
Thank you for distilling and enumerating for us those seven key recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and civil society organizations! They seem doable. That "by 2030, global demand is expected to outstrip the supply of fresh water by 40 percent," should really be a wake-up call.
Thank you for including the video too.