The UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6) launched its 2024 series of SDG 6 indicator progress reports, with summary briefs. The launch included contributions from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) and the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS).
According to the latest data, global advancements are falling short of achieving all eight targets of SDG 6. In some regions, not only is progress lacking but regressing.
Currently, billions of people still live without access to safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services. Most water sources still do not have good ambient water quality. Just under half of all household wastewater is not safely treated and transboundary cooperation with regards to sustainable water management is still severely lacking.
The new reports are based on the most recent SDG 6 data, compiled and verified by United Nations agencies during a 2023 Data Drive.
High-quality data helps to inform the identification of challenges facing policy- and decision-makers, set priorities for more effective and efficient implementation, communicate progress and provide accountability. They also generate support in public and private sectors for additional investment.