According to the United Nations, 2.2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water as of 2022, while 3.5 billion lacked safely managed sanitation services. The situation is projected to worsen significantly by 2050 if current trends persist.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. This goal encompasses a broad spectrum of targets designed to address the global water crisis. They focus on improving water quality, increasing water-use efficiency and ensuring equitable access to drinking water and sanitation services. Key goals include achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, ending open defecation, substantially increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors and implementing integrated water resources management at all levels.
Critical components in the pursuit of achieving SDG 6 are technologies related to water treatment (SDG 6.3), potable water harvesting (SDG 6.1) and efficient water utilisation (SDG 6.4). These technologies address key aspects of SDG 6 by improving access to clean water, enhancing water quality and promoting the efficient use of water resources.
Although water is crucial for life, people and the economy, it can also have a dangerous impact, leading to catastrophic events. Water-related disasters have dominated the list of natural disasters over the past 50 years, accounting for 70% of all deaths related to such events. The frequency of water-related hazards has increased over the past 20 years, with flood-related disasters rising by 134% since 2000, reports the World Bank Group. These disasters not only cause loss of life but also have a significant negative economic impact. For instance, floods have killed over 250 000 people since 1980 and caused over USD 1 trillion in damage, accounting for about 40% of natural catastrophe losses. Therefore, it is not only important to ensure access to clean water and sanitation, but also to develop and implement technologies that protect society and infrastructure from water hazards.
Indeed, the UN is observing that due to climate change, both floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and extreme, affecting more and more people adversely. In response, the EU Green Week 2024 is themed Towards a water resilient Europe.
The EPO has updated its free Deep Tech Finder to help investors and potential partners connect with over 100 investment-ready European startups with European patent applications for water-related inventions. This free online tool now contains profiles for over 8 500 European startups active in dozens of technologies, from digital technologies to healthcare and from clean energy to space exploration.
