What does it mean to measure water for the entire planet? Who collects the data behind SDG 6? And how do numbers from hundreds of countries become a global picture of water security, sanitation, wastewater, ecosystems and governance?
In this episode of The Water Data Podcast, Dr Maggie Kossida , from the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 joins host Veena Srinivasan.
Dr Kossida helps coordinate one of the world’s most ambitious water-data efforts: bringing together information from 190+ countries to understand how the world is progressing on Sustainable Development Goal 6- clean water and sanitation for all.
Maggie explains how SDG 6 expanded the global water agenda beyond drinking water and sanitation to include water quality, wastewater treatment, water use efficiency, water stress, integrated water resources management, freshwater ecosystems, financing and community participation.
She also explains how global monitoring actually works: countries collect and own their data, UN custodian agencies support validation and quality checks, and the Integrated Monitoring Initiative helps coordinate across agencies and indicators. The episode explores why some indicators are much harder to track than others, why national averages can hide local water crises, and how SDG 6 data is increasingly being used to shape standards, policies, investments and national targets.
Finally, Veena and Maggie discuss why missing the 2030 targets should not be seen simply as failure. Instead, monitoring has revealed the gaps, strengthened systems, and created a shared language for water action across the world.
For young researchers, students and water professionals, Maggie also shares how the SDG 6 Data Portal, citizen science and Earth observation can open up new ways to explore global water data.
The Water Data Podcast is a talk show on the science, systems, and stories of water, hosted by Veena Srinivasan.
For all references and further readings related to the episode, visit https://welllabs.org/wdp-maggie-kossida/
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Recording by Vraj Acharya and Nabina Chakraborty. Video editing by Srisabari Varaguna Pandian. Graphics and artwork by Aparna Nambiar and Kanishka Goyal. Audio mixing and mastering by Vijay Doiphode. Podcast production and management by Nabina Chakraborty and Pavan Srinath.
