WORLD MUST WORK TOGETHER TO USE WATER WISELY -- BAN

WORLD MUST WORK TOGETHER TO USE WATER WISELY -- BAN
New York, Mar 22 2009 10:00AM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underscored the potential of water as a unifying force rather than a catalyst for conflict, stressing that the world's collective future depends on how it manages this precious resource.

"More than ever we need to work together to use it wisely," Mr. Ban said in a message to mark World Water Day, observed annually on 22 March.

"While the world's growing population is consuming more freshwater, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital," he stated.

Much of the planet's water, above or below ground, is shared. Forty per cent of the world's people live in 1 of 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources.

"But while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between States and communities, precedent suggests that the opposite is actually what happens," he noted. "Cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response by people facing competing demands."

Under the theme "Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities," this year's Day highlights how transboundary water resources can act as a unifying force.

The Secretary-General noted that worldwide, there are at least 300 international water agreements, often among parties that are otherwise at odds. These agreements demonstrate the potential of shared water resources to foster trust and promote peace.

"I urge Governments, civil society, the private sector and all stakeholders to recognize that our collective future depends on how we manage our precious and finite water resources," he said.

The head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has used his World Water Day message to stress that investing in the world's freshwaters could be one of the keys to aiding global economic recovery.

"The global water market for supply, sanitation and water efficiency is worth over $250 billion and is likely to grow to nearly $660 billion by 2020," Executive Director Achim Steiner noted. "This represents new businesses and new employment prospects for developed and developing economies.

"Meanwhile, an investment of $15 billion a year towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving by 2015 the number of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation could generate global economic benefits worth $38 billion annually," he added.

Also marking the Day, the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation voiced her concern about access to water and sanitation during emergencies.

"The chaos and insecurity caused by war and natural disasters frequently block access to water and sanitation, with devastating results," said Catarina de Albuquerque.

"Economic, social and cultural rights, including those related to water and sanitation, are always applicable, and States may not excuse themselves from respecting them during times of emergency," she added.

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WATER DESERVES HIGHER PRIORITY ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA – UN OFFICIAL

WATER DESERVES HIGHER PRIORITY ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA – UN OFFICIAL
New York, Mar 16 2009 6:00PM

Water must be given higher priority on the development agenda, a top United Nations official told a global gathering that opened today in Istanbul, stressing that the problems the world faces with regard to this precious resource are enormous.

"Developing countries themselves need to increase investment in water, and systematically integrate water in poverty reduction strategies," Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) told the opening of the 5th World Water Forum.

"The international community must also dramatically scale up its support. I urge leaders in all sectors to use this report as a guide and impetus for bold and sustained action to meet the world's water needs," he told the meeting, whose theme is "Bridging Divides for Water."

Mr. Matsuura presented the latest UN World Water Development Report, which warns that the surging growth in global population, climate change, widespread mismanagement and increasing demand for energy have tightened the grip on the world's evaporating water supplies.

As the world's population has swollen to well over 6 billion people, some countries have already reached the limits of their water resources, according to the report compiled by over 20 UN agencies.

"Chronic underinvestment and poor governance in many parts of the world has left hundreds of millions of people deprived of their right to safe water and basic sanitation, vulnerable to disease and extreme hunger, and exposed to the risks of water-related disasters, environmental degradation and conflict," stated the Director-General.

"After decades of inaction, the problems we face are enormous. If left unattended, they may become insurmountable," he added.

Also addressing the meeting, which runs until 22 March, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang said that water and sanitation issues are critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the internationally-agreed targets to slash extreme poverty and other ills by 2015.

Mr. Sha, who is representing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Forum, reminded participants that the world is lagging behind in reaching its MDG target to reduce by half the proportion of the population without access to basic sanitation services.

The Istanbul meeting comes ahead of International World Water Day, observed annually on 22 March to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
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