UN-SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Our Double-Edged Nitrogen Sword Nitrogen exists as a profound duality in Earth’s systems. Its inert atmospheric form ($N_2$) constitutes the most abundant gas surrounding the planet, serving as an invisible backdrop to existence. When converted into reactive forms through fixation processes, nitrogen transforms into a fundamental building block for proteins and DNA, becoming the engine of agricultural productivity that sustains billions of people. ...

Historical Evolution of Water Security Understanding The understanding of water security has evolved significantly over time, particularly in conjunction with the growing awareness of climate change. Historically, water management often focused on ensuring supply for specific sectors like agriculture or urban consumption, often through large-scale infrastructure projects such as dams and irrigation systems1. However, the late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a broadening of the concept of “water security” to encompass not just quantity but also quality, ecosystem health, and the equitable distribution of water resources23. ...

A chemical miracle has turned into a global menace The development of PFAS began in the 1940s when manufacturers started producing these chemicals for their unique properties of water, oil, and stain resistance12. Initially celebrated for their versatility in non-stick cookware, firefighting foams, and countless industrial applications, PFAS were considered technological marvels that enhanced modern life13. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds that make these chemicals useful also make them virtually indestructible in natural environments12. ...

The Evolving Story of Freshwater Thinking The recognition of freshwater as a finite and vulnerable resource with planetary boundaries has evolved significantly over recent decades. Historically, water was primarily viewed through a resource extraction lens, with little consideration for sustainability limits or equitable access. The emergence of environmental consciousness in the 1960s and 1970s began shifting this perspective, highlighting connections between water quality, ecosystem health, and human wellbeing. ...

Ecological Impacts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Runoff Eutrophication and Aquatic Dead Zones Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers enter waterways through surface runoff and leaching, triggering eutrophication—a process where algal blooms deplete dissolved oxygen, creating hypoxic “dead zones” incapable of supporting marine life12. The scale of this crisis is particularly evident in the Gulf of Mexico, where a massive 6,334-square-mile dead zone persists due to Midwestern agricultural runoff. This environmental catastrophe has decimated local fishing industries, reducing shrimp catches by 40% and destabilizing coastal economies that have relied on these waters for generations34. ...