Statement from Minister Clarke on World Water Day

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke has issued the following statement:

“In observance of World Water Day on March 22, the lights of the Jim Smith Building are blue to raise awareness about the importance of fresh water. This day is a reminder to be conscious of the ways we use, consume, and interact with water in our lives, and think about how we can support the world’s water and sanitation challenges.

“Each year, World Water Day raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.

“Water is vital for natural environments and ecosystems, for human activities and food security, and for proper sanitation and hygiene. In the Yukon, we have a very close relationship with our water and many stewards who protect it. Although we have a plentiful supply of it, we must not take our water security for granted.

“Every year a World Water Development Report is published by UNESCO, and the 2024 report is being launched today at their headquarters in Paris. The document provides decision makers with tools for the creation and implementation of sustainable water-related policies. The core of this year’s report is Water for Prosperity and Peace. It communicates how maintaining a secure and equitable water future champions prosperity and peace for all. It also emphasizes the complex and interlinked relationships between sustainable water management and peace, and how advancing work in one area benefits the other.

“The Government of Yukon acknowledges and extends gratitude to Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups who have been stewarding water for generations. We remain committed to helping ensure that our lakes, rivers and groundwater can support future generations of both people living in the Yukon and all living beings. We work with many partners to perform long-term water monitoring to ensure that we make informed decisions to best protect the integrity of the territory’s water systems.

“Watersheds span across jurisdictional borders, and we collaborate with all levels of government to ensure we are taking care of freshwater within and downstream of our borders. It is important that we continue working together to ensure the water that we all depend on is protected.”