SDG 6 progress update: the world is off-track

The world is off-track on its journey to ensure water and sanitation for all by 2030, according to new progress updates launched today by the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6).

The 2021 Progress Updates are based on the ’2020 Data Drive’, coordinated by the IMI-SDG6, which received unprecedented levels of information from country focal points. The data show that we need to accelerate progress, in some areas up to four times faster, to meet SDG 6 within the next nine years.

However, large data gaps remain for some indicators, hampering efforts to direct interventions where they are needed most. Prominent water experts from across the UN family are calling on governments to encourage more national and sub-national data collection, and help policy- and decision-makers to take data-informed action.

The launch event for the 2021 Progress Updates on SDG6 took place earlier today, during the ongoing World Water Week, where an additional event will be hosted on Wednesday 25 August.

• All reports are now available for download here.
• Read IISD guest article ‘In Need of Speed: Data can Accelerate Progress Towards Water and Sanitation for All‘.
• Watch the recordings of the launch events here and here, and download the presentation here.