CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME
By Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ
Eureka Street consulting editor and writer at Jesuit Social Services
March 22: World Water Day
World Water Day reminds us of a human need that has existed as long as human beings, and indeed any living beings, have existed on earth. We need it to drink, to wash, to clean, to play, to farm. Our need for it, however, changes as societies develop. Technology increases the demand for it and climate change lessens access to it.
In 2026 the theme of World Water Day is Water and Gender. It points to the different tasks, needs and challenges that men and women in different societies face in finding and collecting water to drink, in which to wash, and to clean people and dwellings. The very different level of access to water in different societies raises questions about justice in the world.
Water has again provoked public concern in privileged societies as we face the consequence of climate change and the heating of the world. Recent experience suggests that it will be marked by events of flooding and of extreme heat that will affect the availability of water and put pressure on water storage. Already in Australia, some are concerned about how to sustain the supply of water if temperatures routinely reach 50 Celsius and the supply of water will be threatened. The process of AI, with its massive demand for water to cool the energy production necessary, will put further pressure on ground water and the ability to limit the heating associated with climate change.
On the other hand, massive rain and the melting of ice caps will raise water levels and flood densely populated areas in many nations. They may also cause floods that make water supplies undrinkable and drive people from their homes, as well as destroying crops. The economic cost of these disruptions will be immense.
These and other consequences of pressure on water supply, however, put the greatest pressure on the most impoverished people. It falls most heavily, particularly in the poorest nations, on women who collect water, who are pregnant, who need to keep babies cool, clean and have fresh and clean water to drink, as well as to cook and tend gardens.
In such a world, nations, governments, businesses and individuals will come under great pressure. They will be tempted to focus on their own needs and interests. The Christian understanding is that each person is precious and calls for respect. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and need to ensure that the weakest members of society can live lives of dignity. Access to water is a shared need and this vital resource must be made available to all.
In the Church the gift of water is always kept before our eyes – for washing in baptism, for mixing with wine in the Eucharist, for blessings. In that respect, we follow the life of Jesus, who was baptised in water, turned water into wine, fished and travelled on the lake and walked on water.
Water is a great gift, a necessity, something to protect and share with all peoples and to guarantee for future generations.
Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ is a life member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association.
Banner concept by David McMahon, created using Canva’s Magic Media app.