World Water Day 2012: Rethinking Water and Business

May 9, 2012 7:00 PM ET

Performance Notes - The Leadership Blog

I cannot believe a year has passed since World Water Day 2011!  So what does the world have to show for it?

Just a couple of weeks ago, the United Nations shared the great news that the world has met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Water Target of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water, well in advance of the MDG 2015 deadline!  This means that between 1990 and 2010, over two billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources, such as piped supplies and protected wells.  No small feat, and cause for careful celebration.

I say “careful celebration” because even though the MDG was met (it is the first of the MDGs to be reached), at least 11% of the world’s population – 783 million people – are still without access to safe drinking water, and billions lack sanitation facilities.  Clearly, we have a way to go.

To read the full blog, please click here.