The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety requires just two more instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession for it to enter into force, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has said.
Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic. Photo credit: REUTERS/Luc Gnago
The Supplementary Protocol, which provides for response measures in the event of damage from living modified organisms, moved closer to such a noteable achievement when the Central African Republic deposited its instrument of ratification on Thursday, June 15, 2017, thereby becoming the 39th Party to the treaty.
The Protocol will enter into force on the 19th day after the deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, accession, acceptance or approval.
Adopted as a supplementary agreement to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Supplementary Protocol aims to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by providing international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress relating to living modified organisms.
Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the CBD, said: “The ratification by the Central African Republic brings us very close to the entry into force of this important instrument. I urge all Parties to the Biosafety Protocol that have yet to do so to ratify the Supplementary Protocol as soon as possible. I also urge Parties to the Biodiversity Convention that have not yet done so to ratify the Biosafety Protocol so that they can also become Parties to the Supplementary Protocol.”
The Secretariat says it is developing capacity-building materials and undertaking a range of awareness-raising activities to expedite the entry into force and implementation of the Supplementary Protocol.
Scientists announced on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 that a much-anticipated break at the Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica has occurred, unleashing a massive iceberg that is more than 2,200 square miles in area and weighs a trillion tons.
The iceberg is more than 2,200 square miles in area and weighs a trillion tons. The iceberg, which is expected to be dubbed ‘A68’, is predicted to be one of the 10 largest icebergs ever recorded. Graphic shows how the iceberg compares in size. Credit: DailyMail
In other words, the iceberg – among the largest in recorded history to splinter off the Antarctic continent – is close to the size of Delaware (a state located in the northeastern region of the United States) and consists of almost four times as much ice as the fast melting ice sheet of Greenland loses in a year. It is expected to be given the name “A68″ soon, scientists said.
“Its volume is twice that of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes,” wrote researchers with Project MIDAS, a research group at Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities in Wales that has been monitoring the situation closely by satellite.
The break was detected by one NASA satellite instrument, MODIS on the Aqua satellite, and confirmed by a second, they said. The European Space Agency has also confirmed the break.
The iceberg contains so much mass that if all of it were added anew to the ocean, it would drive almost 3 millimeters of global sea level rise. In this case though, the ice was already afloat so there won’t be a substantial sea level change.
The Project MIDAS group said on Wednesday that the effect of the break is to shrink the size of the floating Larsen C ice shelf by 12 percent. While they can’t be certain, they’re concerned that this could have a destabilising effect on the remainder of the shelf, which is among Antarctica’s largest.
“The iceberg is one of the largest recorded and its future progress is difficult to predict,” said Adrian Luckman, the lead MIDAS researcher and an Antarctic scientist at Swansea University, in a statement. “It may remain in one piece but is more likely to break into fragments. Some of the ice may remain in the area for decades, while parts of the iceberg may drift north into warmer waters.”
There is no expected immediate effect on shipping, Luckman said by email.
“Icebergs from this region occasionally make it out beyond the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, but it will take a while for that to happen to this iceberg or its fragments, and there is not a lot of shipping in the area that I am aware of,” he explained.
The change is large enough that it will trigger a redrawing of the Antarctic coastline, according to Ted Scambos, senior research scientist with the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Indeed, it means that the Larsen C ice shelf, previously the fourth-largest of its kind in Antarctica, is now probably only the fifth- or sixth-largest, Scambos said.
Even larger icebergs than this have broken off of Antarctica in the past, however, including a berg of over 4,000 square miles, dubbed B15, in 2000. That was almost twice the size of this one and broke off the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica’s largest floating ice body. It was the biggest iceberg ever recorded.
Larsen C also lost an even larger piece in 1986, Scambos said, but that occurred in considerably different circumstances. It came after the shelf had grown considerably and extended much farther out into the Weddell Sea than it does now.
“This calving is a little bit different, because it makes the ice shelf so much smaller,” Scambos said. Calving refers to the process in which chunks of ice break away from an ice shelf or glacier into the ocean.
Indeed, the front of Larsen C ice shelf has retracted back farther than ever previously observed, according to Eric Rignot, a glaciologist with NASA and the University of California-Irvine.
“The ice front is now almost 40 km farther back,” said Rignot by email. “A similar evolution was seen on Larsen A and B before they collapsed in 1995 and 2002 respectively,” he added, referring to Larsen C’s now missing northern cousins.
If you add together all the ice lost from the various Larsen ice shelves since the 1970s, it is around 7,350 square miles, according to figures provided by Rignot. That is a little bit smaller than the state of New Jersey.
Scientists will track the iceberg using satellite imagery and should be able to get a chance at regular glimpses even in Antarctic night, due to the use of radar and thermal imaging.
The iceberg’s progress is expected to be northward in the direction of South America. First, it will be swept up in the Weddell Sea Gyre, an elongated circuit of ocean flow, and then should pass to the west of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, according to Helen Amanda Fricker, an Antarctic expert at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Then the iceberg, or its pieces, will become swept up in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which encircles the entire continent, flowing in a west-to-east direction.
Before the break, a rift across the Larsen C ice shelf had extended more than 100 miles in length, and just a few miles of remaining ice connected the nascent iceberg to the shelf. The break began several years ago but had quickened its advance in the last year, increasingly convincing scientists that the iceberg detachment was inevitable, despite the fact that it is actually winter in Antarctica right now.
There is a debate over whether this event can be attributed in any way to climate change. Scientists don’t have all the data that they would need to show what is happening in the environment of the floating Larsen C ice shelf, which is affected not only but air temperatures above it but also ocean temperatures below it.
Antarctica’s ice shelves do carve large pieces regularly, a natural process. But at the same time, Larsen C is the next ice shelf in line in a southward progression that has previously seen the collapse of the Larsen A and Larsen B ice shelves, making this occurrence at least suspicious.
“I think we’re all scratching our heads as to just what combination of changes in the ice, air, and ocean caused this,” said Scambos. “It’s unclear if this is a new trend for this area of Antarctica. The case for a climate-related cause is not nearly as good as for other areas of Antarctica.”
But Eric Rignot, the NASA and University of California-Irvine researcher, is convinced of a climate role.
“For me, there is no doubt that this event is not part of a natural cycle,” he said by email. “The Larsen C ice shelf will not collapse for another few decades, most likely, but this calving is unique in the history of the ice shelf since first seen by human eyes by the Norwegian explorer Carl Anton Larsen in 1893.”
Rignot observed that Larsen C’s northern cousin Larsen B, which collapsed in 2002, is believed to have previously held its position for over 10,000 years and something similar is probably true of Larsen C.
The Antarctic continent is ringed by ice shelves, which are large, thick, floating extensions of glaciers that have extended from the land, where they have built up due to snowfall over vast time periods, into the sea. These shelves are now vulnerable to warming air temperatures and ocean waters, which can cause them to thin, break off pieces at an unusual rate, and even collapse. And when they do so, the ice behind them is liberated to flow more rapidly into the ocean, raising seas.
Scientists stress, however, that because the trillion-ton iceberg is already afloat in the Weddell Sea, its detachment does not raise the globe’s sea level. Their fear, however, is that its loss could speed up the outward ice flow of the remainder of the Larsen C ice shelf, which would indeed increase sea level – but glaciers in this region only have the potential to raise seas by about a centimeter.
The greater fear is the loss of ice shelves, and glaciers, farther southward in Antarctica, where the sea level rise potential begins to be measured in feet.
China is planning a new “forest city” that will be covered in one million plants and 40,000 trees.
Work is expected to be complete on Liuzhou Forest City, located in the southern mountain area of Guangxi, by 2020.
It is hoped that the extra plant-life will absorb almost 10,000 tonnes of CO2 and 57 tonnes of pollutants annually and well as produce 900 tonnes of oxygen.
A study in 2015 claimed that 4,000 die of air pollution in China every day and it is hoped the new city will act as a blueprint for showing how the problem might be tackled.
The new forest city will house 30,000 people, as well as two schools and a hospital and link to the main city of Liuzhou by a high-speed electric train.
Three other similar projects are underway in other Chinese cities.
It was designed by Italian Stefano Boeri who wrote on his website that the new community will be energy efficient.
The new forest city will be covered by one million plants and 40,000 trees. Photo credit: Stefano Boeri ArchitettiIt is hoped that the extra plant-life will absorb almost 10,000 tonnes of CO2 and 57 tonnes of pollutants annually. Photo credit: Stefano Boeri ArchitettiThree other similar projects are underway in other Chinese cities. Photo credit: Stefano Boeri Architetti
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has disclosed that it will partner with the Niger State Government in Nigeria on an urban assistance programme. The scope of activities and projects will contribute to the achievement of sustainable urban management and development in Niger State.
UN-Habitat and Niger State officials during the scoping mission in Minna
During a recent scoping mission, UN-Habitat visited towns and emirates of Minna and Suleja and held seminars with federal and state government officials and other non-state stakeholders in urban management to identify priority areas and scope of activities needed to unlock the development potential of the state through sustainability in human settlements.
In his welcoming remarks, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State in a statement read by his deputy, Ahmed Muhammad Ketso, said the state government was committed to the success of the collaboration programme with UN-Habitat.
He indicated that there was dire need to modernise cities in the state, bolster industry, entrench the generation and use of renewable energy, adding that the state was willing to uptake partners and investors to invest and develop its settlements. He noted that the state needed an urban development policy and integrated urban plans to guide development of its urban and rural areas.
Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Abiyu Abdullahi, reported to the mission team that the state had outdated planning documents for two of its major urban areas: Minna and Suleja. These plans need to be reviewed to guide urban growth, he noted, pointing out that urban growth was sprawling in an undesirable manner and most services were not coping with the demand. He called out to all stakeholders for support in their respective roles as residents of the state.
State urban policies and a smart new town
Remy Sietchiping from UN-Habitat reassured the state government of UN-Habitat’s commitment to provide technical assistance in urban development matters. The Government of Korea had committed to provide funding for the sub-national urban policy development process in Niger State and requested for the state government to commit its resources too towards the collaboration activities as agreed in the mission.
After meetings and seminars with state and non-state actors in the urban development of Niger State, the following activities were identified for priority implementation:
preparation of a State Urban Development Policy (SUDP) for Niger State based on the National Urban Development Policy of 2012 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
preparation of an integrated development plan for Minna, the state capital, and Suleja, located next to Abuja, the Federal Capital City;
assisting in planning and developing a Smart New Town near Suleja along the proposed bypass between the village of Maje (along Minna-Suleja Road) and Zubra (along Kaduna-Lokoja Road) to decongest Suleja and providing housing for commuters of Abuja; and
strengthening and building the capacity of state institutions, especially the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for the development and management of urban areas through training workshops, exchange visits and tours of officials from Niger State to enhance the urban management knowledge and experience of government officials.
Niger State is said to be Nigeria’s largest state with a total area of 76,363 km2 and a population of over four million people. It has been battling with a burgeoning urban population due to its close proximity to Abuja. The programme in Niger State is likely is to be scaled-up to other areas in offering solutions to local governments to ensure the impact is felt across in urban interventions. At the end of the end of the mission, a roadmap was agreed upon between UN-Habitat and State officials outlining activities that aimed at implementing priority areas.
The programme benefited from technical assistance of Professor Zubairu Mustapha of the Centre for Human Settlements and Urban Development of the Federal University of Technology in Minna.
The Green Climate Fund has signed an Accreditation Master Agreement with Conservation International, broadening the Fund’s global reach to support climate action.
Executive Director, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Howard Bamsey
Conservation International, an international non-profit organisation and GCF Accredited Entity, is helping to protect nature and encourage sustainable development in over 30 countries across six continents.
Accreditation Master Agreements are critical as they deepen ties between GCF and its Accredited Entities, which propose and carry out the climate finance projects GCF approves. They are also a prerequisite for the disbursement of project funds.
Conservation International President, Jennifer Morris, said the signing of the Accreditation Master Agreement is a critical step in helping the organisation address climate change.
“CI has a long history of using nature-based solutions to combat climate change in countries around the world least able to cope with a changing climate,” said Ms Morris.
“Joining forces with the GCF provides us with additional financial means to expand our reach and increase our impact. This will include the launch of a first of its kind public-private investment programme to stimulate investment in climate-resilient land use in Madagascar, our first approved GCF project.”
GCF Executive Director, Howard Bamsey, said GCF would benefit from the international NGO’s well-established model of conservation based on science, fieldwork and strong partnerships with governments and indigenous people’s organisations.
“Conservation International’s rich experience in reducing deforestation and improving agricultural practices will be a welcome addition to the Fund’s growing capacity to deal with climate change,” Mr Bamsey said.
Injuries on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 knocked out two top shots in the ongoing Wimbledon tennis championship as they seek the coveted trophy.
World number four, Novak Djokovic
World number four, Novak Djokovic, retired during his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych with an elbow injury.
The former world number one lost the first set 6-7, to the Czech and was two love down in the second, when he had to retire.
Wimbledon defending champion, Andy Murray, was knocked out of the Open in the quarter final by Sam Querrey, who won 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 to become the first American man to reach a Grand Slam semi final, since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
For Murray, the hip injury that disrupted his build-up to Wimbledon had finally caught up with him.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer is now the favorite after he maintained his bid for a record eight Wimbledon title, as he moved into the last four.
Federer beat last year’s runner-up Milos Raonil 6-4, 6-2, 7-6, with a trade mark display on Centre Court, as he won in his 100th singles match at Wimbledon.
He would now play Tomas Berdych in Friday’s semi final. American Sam Querrey will now play Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the other semi final.
Federer is the second man to play 100 matches at the Wimbledon in the Open era after Jimmy Connors.
Experts say Gambia could become the first country in sub-Sahara Africa to eliminate malaria on its track record of combating the mosquito-borne disease.
Adama Barrow, president of the Gambia
The prevalence of the malaria parasite in children under five has plunged to 0.2 per cent from four per cent in 2011, according to the National Malaria Control Programme (NMPC).
NMCP data shows that the total number of new malaria cases across the West African nation has fallen by about 40 per cent in that time to 155,450 in 2016, down from 262,000 in 2011.
Head of NMCP, Balla Kandeh, said Gambia is aiming to achieve the milestone of having no new malaria cases by 2020, but donor fatigue is a concern with a funding gap of over 25 million dollars.
Kandeh said: “This last mile is the most difficult, we need more support to sustain the gains we have made yet donors often turn their attention elsewhere as cases drop.”
Kandeh said that malaria rates in Gambia may rebound if more funding is not secured soon.
He hoped that Gambia’s new leadership under President Adama Barrow, who won a December election to bring an end to 22 years of autocratic rule under Yahya Jammeh, will attract back donors after many left during the previous regime.
He said: “There is a better working environment under Barrow, with less constraints and less political uncertainty.
“The fear of the unknown has gone.”
According to Carla Fajardo of aid agency Catholic Relief Services, aside from the usual control measures, such as antimalarial drugs, insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying, Gambia has successfully used technology to tackle malaria.
Fajardo said tablets, online platforms and GPS have been used to track delivery of the above strategies, with real-time data enabling decisions to be made on the fly, while internet service providers have boosted bandwidth in remote areas.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the world has made huge strides against malaria since 2000, with death rates plunging by 60 percent and at least six million lives saved globally.
The UN said efforts to end one of the world’s deadliest diseases, which kills about 430,000 people a year, mostly children in sub-Saharan Africa, are under threat as mosquitoes become increasingly resistant to measures such as bed nets and drugs.
The aim of the recently held African Clean Up Conference was to march up with action the desires of the convener of the conference, African Clean Up Initiative, for Africans to begin to take responsibility in solving their environmental challenges in both indigenous and creative ways.
L-R: CEO, African Clean Up Initiative, Alexander Akhigbe; Lecturer, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Isaac Mbir Bryant; Manager, Hans Cottage Botel, Betty Arabel Hanson; and Executive Director, Green Africa Youth Organisation, Josua Amponsem
Held from Friday, July 8 to Saturday, July 9 2017, the forum was the second in the series.
Themed: “Exploring New Horizons and Sustainable Best Practice in Waste Management and Recycling”, this year’s conference was attended by delegates from West African countries as well as environmental professionals and intellectuals in Africa who took turns to road map the way to addressing waste management issues, particularly plastic and human waste.
According to the speakers, the problem of Africa is in her inability to manage the waste it produces, even though it does not produce more wastes than the developed countries. They thus proffered solutions that will help Africans best manage their waste and curb the menace caused by improper waste disposal.
Recycling was demonstrated as one of the ways of mitigating the impact of waste in Africa. Afolasade Nubi of the University of Lagos, in a paper titled “Solid Waste Recycling in an Academic Institution: Case Study – University of Lagos” noted how the institution moved from various stages of managing waste to the present recycling.
According to her, the institution no longer burns its waste unlike previously which caused health related issues in the school community. Sorting bins are now located across the school and residential areas which allows for source sorting and, upon collection, reduces the amount of waste that get to the land fill as waste paper, cans, and plastics are sold to recycling companies.
She added that, since 2014, the institution has made huge amount of money from sorting and recycling of waste as well as ensuring a cleaner and healthier school community.
Yahaya Ahmed, the Director/CEO of Developmental Association of Renewable Energy (DARE), revealed how he used plastic bottles to solve real issue of homelessness in the northern Nigeria. According to the climate change expert, plastic bottles can be used to build homes in rural areas particularly devastated areas due to insurgency or climate change.
The plastic bottle brick, which was displayed during his presentation, is said to be stronger than the usual bricks. It is used in the construction of residential buildings, fence, sitting pavement and for trapping water for areas experiencing drought. The plastic bottle brick project, he added, provides jobs for the Almajaris in the area who now earn a decent living after being trained as masons as they now construct houses and wells using the plastic bricks. At the award night he was awarded a Hero of the Environment for solving homelessness with his plastic bottle housing project in rural areas in northern Nigeria.
Opening delegates’ minds to new horizon in waste management, Issac Bryant of University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana whose interest is in waste to energy technologies and resource recovery from waste, in his presentation discussed the conversion of human waste of urine to fertiliser. He noted and proved with pictorial proofs that human urine is good and better for growing crops than our usual manure. Moreso, he added, it reduces environmental hazards if urine is collected and used on the farm or garden other than unguarded disposal that negatively impacts the surrounding.
Femi Oye, Co-founder /CEO of SMEFUNDS, another Hero award recipient who doubled as a speaker during the conference, examined ways at which Africans can reduce their carbon footprint through clean cook stoves, solar powered bulbs and solar powered refrigerators. The clean cook stove, according to him, does not emit carbon because it burns on gel and not kerosene and the refrigerator is not only environmental friendly but cost effective.
Other speakers at the conference were: Kwame Ofori, the founding director, Ako Foundation; Simon Turner, Country manager, NGO Challenges Worldwide, Ghana; Joshua Amponsem, Executive Director, Africa Youth Organisation and Country host, ACCGhana2017; and Alexander Akhigbe, Founder, African Clean Up Initiative and Convener ACCGhana2017.
The two-day event ended with the award night ceremony that celebrated Africans whose environmental activities have impacted the African space.
“We have to keep encouraging our environmental champions to continue to drive towards environmental sustainability in Africa until we birth good policies and practices that best support living,” Akhigbe said.
The following persons and institutions awarded at the event are:
Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed (DARE), University of Lagos, Edith O. Efiok-Offiong, Obinna Okenwa, Access Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Taiwo Adewole, Ama Ofori-Antwi, James Mulbah, Sulaiman Hussein Kemi, Ajadi Ganiyu Adedapo, and Dr Ameen Olayiwola.
Though the Lagos State Government has given assurances on mitigating future flood disasters, in the aftermath of the recent flooding, a recent report which chronicles flooding hazards of 16 years in the state has shown that such events could result in loss of some 260,000 lives in the next 10 years. This may be accompanied by a GDP (gross domestic product) loss of $5526.2 million and $48.1 million urban damage.
Motorists and cyclists wade through a flooded Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the infamous the July 2011 flooding
The study, titled “Coastal Cities at Risk”, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), was released exactly a year ago on July 10, 2016.
It shows that anthropogenic factors (rather than climatic) such as removal of vegetation, loss of wetland, obstruction of water ways, as well as a large population of environmentally-ignorant people, will continue to cause flooding.
Conducted by Dr. Ibukun Adelekan of the Geography Department, University of Ibadan, it showed the July 10, 2011 flood caused an estimated loss of N30 billion (as at then where N150 = $1). Insurance claims following the flood event was the highest recorded from flood incidents in Nigeria. There were 25 lives lost, while many were rendered homeless as houses were submerged by the floods.
According to the study, the July 2011 flood was caused by heavy rains of 233 mm. Incidentally, experts say this year’s rain water collected is about 477mm. “That is equivalent to the rainfalls experienced in other climes for six months,” Mr. Ade Adesanya, Lagos Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, said.
The study spotted inadequate drainage system in most parts of the city and blocked drains resulting from indiscriminate dumping of solid waste as a predisposing factor to future disaster.
“In 2013 about 74 per cent (10,420,717.64 tons) of solid waste generated was left uncollected,” it reported.
Still on anthropogenic factors, the survey shows that 3,647 houses that violated the Building Contravention law in 16 local government (LG) areas, and only 578 (13 percent) has been so far demolished. The implicated LG areas are namely Agege, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Ikeja, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi, Shomolu, Surulere Ifako Ijaiye, and Etiosa.
The study also finds that Lagos is even more vulnerable to flood hazards due to its large population who are unaware of environmental issues, limited information and skill coming from the government and lack of collaboration between relevant institutions.
As per climatic predisposing factors, it stated that sea level had risen by 63.6mm over the 20-year period at an average rate of 3.18mm/year.
It concluded by stating that resilience to flood risks in Lagos is highly dependent on the provision and functioning of basic infrastructure and social services which it presumes is not
yet at an acceptable level.
Some three in 10 people worldwide, or 2.1 billion, lack access to safe, readily available water at home, and 6 in 10, or 4.5 billion, lack safely managed sanitation, according to a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Gloria Samuel, 37, a cleaner at Bwari town Primary Health Centre, showing the rain water collected that is used to clean the toilets because there is no water supply to the centre. They also buy clean water to use for cleaning more sensitive sanitation and for patients who need clean water to wash. Upkuduru ward Bwari LGA, Abuja, Nigeria
The Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, “Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and Sustainable Development Goal baselines”, presents the first global assessment of “safely managed” drinking water and sanitation services. The overriding conclusion is that too many people still lack access, particularly in rural areas.
“Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege of only those who are rich or live in urban centres,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These are some of the most basic requirements for human health, and all countries have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them.”
Billions of people have gained access to basic drinking water and sanitation services since 2000, but these services do not necessarily provide safe water and sanitation. Many homes, healthcare facilities and schools also still lack soap and water for handwashing. This puts the health of all people – but especially young children – at risk for diseases, such as diarrhoea.
As a result, every year, 361 000 children under 5 years of age die due to diarrhoea. Poor sanitation and contaminated water are also linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid.
“Safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene are critical to the health of every child and every community – and thus are essential to building stronger, healthier, and more equitable societies,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake. “As we improve these services in the most disadvantaged communities and for the most disadvantaged children today, we give them a fairer chance at a better tomorrow.”
Significant inequalities persist
In order to decrease global inequalities, the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for ending open defecation and achieving universal access to basic services by 2030.
Of the 2.1 billion people who do not have safely managed water, 844 million do not have even a basic drinking water service. This includes 263 million people who have to spend over 30 minutes per trip collecting water from sources outside the home, and 159 million who still drink untreated water from surface water sources, such as streams or lakes.
In 90 countries, progress towards basic sanitation is too slow, meaning they will not reach universal coverage by 2030.
Of the 4.5 billion people who do not have safely managed sanitation, 2.3 billion still do not have basic sanitation services. This includes 600 million people who share a toilet or latrine with other households, and 892 million people – mostly in rural areas – who defecate in the open. Due to population growth, open defecation is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania.
Good hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of disease. For the first time, the SDGs are monitoring the percentage of people who have facilities to wash their hands at home with soap and water. According to the new report, access to water and soap for handwashing varies immensely in the 70 countries with available data, from 15 per cent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa to 76 per cent in western Asia and northern Africa.
Additional key findings from the report include:
Many countries lack data on the quality of water and sanitation services. The report includes estimates for 96 countries on safely managed drinking water and 84 countries on safely managed sanitation.
In countries experiencing conflict or unrest, children are four times less likely to use basic water services, and two times less likely to use basic sanitation services than children in other countries.
There are big gaps in service between urban and rural areas. Two out of three people with safely managed drinking water and three out of five people with safely managed sanitation services live in urban areas. Of the 161 million people using untreated surface water (from lakes, rivers or irrigation channels), 150 million live in rural areas.
