In a rural village in Uzbekistan, a child collects clean water from a pipe. Image credit: Asian Development Bank
Water has two faces – a force to be reckoned with in the form of a raging flood, and a precious and scarce resource in geographic areas afflicted with drought.
At this year’s World Water Week, with the theme Water and waste – reduce and reuse, more than 3,000 participants hailing from nations from all over the world band together to study methods in which water can be reused and wastage reduced in order to help mankind live sustainably.
Industry professionals and experts, decision-makers, and innovators from all parts of the water arena have gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to develop solutions, exchange knowledge, foster new ways of thinking, and network in the face of some of the most pressing challenges related to water today.
United Nations (UN) General Assembly President Peter Thomson called on countries to back clean water and sanitation on a global level, highlighting that where the environment is concerned, everything is interconnected.
“None should imagine that the states of sanitation and coral reefs are anything but directly connected,” Thomson said in his keynote address to launch World Water Week. “It makes no sense to consider terrestrial environmental issues, fresh water challenges or climate change in isolation.”
He also advised the international gathering to use an “inclusive, integrated approach” and to put all energies, ideas, and skills to use.
Adopted by all 193 Members of the UN in September of 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will continue to guide developmental efforts of the international arena through to 2030, includes water and sanitation, which is SDG6.
“SDG6, the water and sanitation Goal, is in need of a major push,” Thomson added. “The time is right, thus I encourage you all to join together to develop concerted global action to deliver on the targets of [that goal].”
Sources: World Health Organisation, Eco-Business
