Global water crisis on planet water, the blue planet

The text is based on the arguments in the different reports presented by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Its starting point is the paradox of the current crisis in access to safe drinking water on a planet where water is abundant. It goes on to identify three key challenges: making peace with our rivers, aquifers and aquatic ecosystems; making water an argument for peace and cooperation between peoples; and promoting a democratic governance of water, understood as a common asset and not a commodity. Assigning different ethical ranks for prioritising water uses is proposed with regard to the latter challenge. Next, the article promotes tackling climate change and managing aquatic ecosystems and water as common assets, ensuring sustainability through a human rights-based approach. The risks arising from privatisation, commercialisation and financialisation of water are pointed out in relation to this approach. The article concludes by arguing for the need to promote cross-border agreements and institutions to manage shared basins and aquifers, while denouncing the use of water as a weapon against civilian populations, such as in the war in Gaza.