Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Water Industry: Bridging the Gap through Science and Collaboration

As we swelter in the UK in the early summer sunshine, I thought i'd take a look at the UN's SDG's as they relate to water. As I've outlined previously, one of our key aims at Microsoft is the reduction of #water #scarcity. At present we are seeing increased sea warming and polar ice loss. These trends alongside climatic warming in general are increasingly stressing our freshwater resources.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a universal call-to-action to end poverty, safeguard the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Among the 17 interconnected goals, from a water perspective, SDG6 'Clean Water and Sanitation' is directly associated with the water industry. I thought I would delve into how the water industry relates to SDGs, primarily focusing on aspects such as drought, pollution, and the significant role of science and collaboration in addressing these global challenges.

SDG 6 and the Water Industry

SDG 6 aims to "ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". It encompasses various targets, including universal access to clean and affordable drinking water, improving water quality, and increasing water-use efficiency.

As the primary stewards of water resources in the UK, our industry is an integral player in achieving these targets. From water extraction, purification, distribution, to sanitation, efficient operations significantly contribute to access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

As an example of how Microsoft are driving innovation in this space our researchers have just published (June 16th, 2023) a paper on leveraging machine learning to improve subseasonal weather forecasting. These forecasts are essential for water management as they provide predictions for periods of two weeks to three months in the future. These forecasts can be used to anticipate extreme weather events like droughts, heatwaves, or storms, which could potentially harm water resources and infrastructure.

The research team developed a model named "SubseasonalRNN" that uses historical weather data to make these predictions. The model was trained on 37 years of data and has shown competitive results against traditional subseasonal forecasts. This approach has the potential to augment existing forecasting methods, providing the water industry with more accurate and timely information to make decisions, contributing to the efficient management of water resources and the achievement of SDG6.

You can read this research paper here

Drought, Pollution, and the Water Industry

As we are increasingly seeing in the daily press the pressures of drought and pollution pose significant challenges to the water industry and, consequently, to the achievement of SDG 6. Drought, exacerbated by climate change, threatens the water industry's ability to provide continuous, safe water supplies. Prolonged periods of low rainfall can deplete water sources, leading to water scarcity. This issue is particularly significant for water-dependent industries, agriculture, and communities.

Pollution, on the other hand, threatens water quality and safety. Industrial waste, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal of plastics contaminate water bodies, making them unsafe for human use and damaging aquatic ecosystems.

The Role of Science and Collaboration

Successfully addressing these complex challenges demands a deep understanding of natural and human systems. This is where science comes in, research helps us to understand the causes and impacts of drought and pollution, which in turn allows us to inform more effective water management strategies. At Microsoft we are helping the water industry to improve water efficiency, build resilience against drought, and reduce pollution. Our Cloud platforms are being utilised to help monitor water levels, predict droughts, and provide the scalability to empower innovative water treatment technologies that remove contaminants, improving water safety.

To achieve SDG6 we will require unprecedented collaboration across different sectors, from governments and industries to NGOs and communities. Such a collective effort is the only way to ensure integrated water resource management, which is vital for balancing the diverse needs of people, economies, and ecosystems.

The Microsoft Climate Research Initiative is a broad, multi-disciplinary effort aimed at creating technology-driven solutions to address climate change. The initiative harnesses the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing to boost our understanding of the climate system, enabling the development of effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Some of the project's key focus areas include building high-resolution climate models, developing tools to track carbon fluxes, and creating climate resilience solutions for communities. This initiative aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by fostering science-driven collaboration to tackle key environmental challenges, including those impacting the water industry like drought and pollution.

The water industry has a crucial role to play to achieve the UN's SDGs, especially SDG 6. In the UK, we are going to have to come to terms with the fact that our water quenched lifestyle is going to have to change as we grapple with the impacts of drought and pollution. Science and collaboration are not mere allies in this fight, but necessities.

Microsoft's Environmental Sustainability Research group provides access to a wide array of research papers focused on environmental issues and sustainability. The research covers diverse fields like climate change, agriculture, water, energy, and ecosystems, using cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis.

These publications demonstrate Microsoft's commitment to leveraging technology to address environmental challenges, aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. These scientific insights can significantly influence industries such as water management, providing innovative strategies for addressing critical issues like drought and pollution.

Water scarcity is a clear and present danger to society, at Microsoft, our platform and tools will help navigate the complex journey towards sustainable water management, ensuring clean water and sanitation for all and contributing to the broader vision of sustainable development. At Microsoft, we have announced an "Open Call" for innovations to achieve water positive and climate resilience goals. We plan to replenish more water than we use by 2030, aiming to become 'water positive.' Microsoft also plans to develop strong climate resilience in the regions where it operates by adapting to and minimizing the effects of climate change. Alongside our development with our Cloud for Sustainability for our clients, this initiative underscores Microsoft's commitment to sustainable water management and tackling climate change, aligning with SDG6 and its ambition to provide 'Clean Water and Sanitation for all'.