-- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday called on the international community to work towards a "water secure world" as part of the global ecosystem plan noted in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and post- 2015 agenda.
"Although seemingly abundant, only a tiny amount of the water on our planet is easily available as freshwater," Ban said in a message issued here by his spokesperson to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The theme for this year's observance is Water and Biodiversity.
Presently, "we live in an increasingly water insecure world where demand often outstrips supply and where water quality often fails to meet minimum standards," the secretary-general said. In his message, the UN chief noted that biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides are central to achieving the vision of a "water secure world." More specifically, "ecosystems influence the local, regional and global availability and quality of water," the secretary- general said. For example, "forests help regulate soil erosion and protect water quality and supply" and "wetlands can reduce flood risks," Ban said, adding that "soil biodiversity helps maintain water for crops." That's why last year's Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development recognized the role of ecosystems in maintaining water quantity and quality, he said. "Integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning can help us build better water futures for cities, where water stresses may be especially acute given the rapid pace of urbanization," he added. The secretary-general also called on countries to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and "therefore help us all to work toward the future we want." The Nagoya Protocol was adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its tenth meeting on Oct. 29, 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The protocol is aimed at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way.
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About half of the world's population will experience a shortage of drinking water by 2030 - UN Secretary-General...
ReplyDeleteAbout half of the world's population will experience an acute shortage of drinking water by 2030, stated UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the opening of the Water Summit 2013 which began in Budapest on Tuesday.
According to him, the demand for water may exceed its production by 40 %. Ban Ki-moon called on to join forces to prevent “unsustainable use” of the world's water resources and to ensure its proper and equitable distribution. Since a large amount of water is spent for the maintenance of crops, the Secretary General called for an improved irrigation system that will save water resources. Also, the Secretary General stressed that despite the looming threat of water shortage, the global community must do everything possible to avoid conflicts between different countries and societies arising due to this problem.
The Water Summit 2013 is taking place from 8th to 11th of October in the capital of Hungary, Budapest.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2013_10_08/About-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-experience-a-shortage-of-drinking-water-by-2030-UN-Secretary-General-8477/
8/10/13