Sustainable Future through Education for Water

Abstract

Access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is a human right, although half the world's population suffers from water scarcity. This insufficiency is expected to worsen with rising global temperatures and climate change. Including the entire Society in the management of water resources will bring sustainability to human and ecological systems. Including the Society in the management of water resources will bring sustainability to human and environmental systems. Education can achieve this; however, what are the essential topics in Education for Water (E4W)? In what areas of knowledge is it relevant? This research sought to answer these questions through quantitative analysis. We consulted 44 experts (47% females, 90% having postgraduate studies, and 71% working in the public education sector) and found that the most important E4W topics are Water Quality, Natural Availability, and Renewable Water. Additionally, they mentioned Hydric Resources Management and Awareness of Water. Although this topic is interdisciplinary and interinstitutional, most participants stated that E4W should only be addressed in certain areas of knowledge. In contrast, the authors, in agreement with the United Nations, consider that to strengthen the water security of communities, E4W must become a real object of study at all educational levels and areas of knowledge. This way, we will form and develop the technology that Society 5.0 requires.