So what is World Toilet Day?
Toilet Day has been an annual United Nations Observance since 2013. It was first established in 2001 by the World Toilet Organization.
Every year, UN-Water — the United Nations’ coordination mechanism on water and sanitation — sets the theme for World Toilet Day.
In 2021, the theme is ‘Valuing Toilets’. Previous themes can be found here:https://www.worldtoiletday.info/archives-2021
How do toilets protect our health?
Sustainable sanitation is resilient to climate change and safely processes bodily waste.
Toilets, combined with clean water and good hygiene, form a strong defense against #COVID19 and future disease outbreaks.
What do toilets have to do with climate change?
Flood, drought, and rising sea levels threaten sanitation systems – from toilets to septic tanks to treatment plants.
Everyone must have sustainable sanitation that can withstand climate change and keep communities healthy and functioning.
How can toilets help fight climate change?
Wastewater and sludge from toilets contain valuable water, nutrients and energy.
Sustainable sanitation systems make productive use of waste to safely boost agriculture and reduce and capture emissions for greener energy.
Today, the world’s toilets – and the sanitation systems they are connected to – are under threat from climate change.
Flooding, drought and rising sea levels can damage any part of a sanitation system – toilets, pipes, tanks and treatment plants – spreading raw sewage and creating a public health emergency.
The effects of climate change are only becoming more frequent and more extreme. We must make our sanitation systems resilient, so they are sustainable as climate change gets worse.
Billions of people live with weak and vulnerable sanitation systems, or no systems at all.
Climate change will disrupt or destroy sanitation services for huge numbers of people if we do not act.
Everyone must have sustainable sanitation, alongside clean water and handwashing facilities,
to help protect and maintain our health security and stop the spread of deadly infectious diseases such as COVID-19, cholera and typhoid.
In short, WE have to give a crap.
Support THRIVE NETWORKS:
Last year, the Water Emissaries was supporting Thrive Networks, an international NGO pioneering evidence-based programs; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). We invite you to support them as well by donating here. (thrivenetworks.org/giving-menu/)
Other actions YOU can take!
Check out this premium toilet paper and tissue company that donates 50% of its profits to help build toilets!
https://us.whogivesacrap.org/pages/our-impact
Here's how to get involved and start your own initiatives to aid in the mission of World Toilet Day!
https://www.worldtoiletday.info/world-toilet-day-2020/world-toilet-day-2020-act/