World water crisis is theme of conference in New York

With the theme Accelerating action for a sustainable future, the United Nations (UN) is holding its annual conference on water until this Friday (24th) in New York. At the meeting, which began yesterday (23), the countries represented at the UN discuss the imminent risk of a global water crisis. “We are draining the lifeblood of humanity through vampire consumption and unsustainable use [da água] and evaporating it through global warming,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The purpose of the event is to decide on joint actions that can transform this scenario in the coming years. Unlike other climate meetings, the United Nations conference does not intend to produce binding agreements, such as the one in Paris, signed in 2015, but to engage countries in solutions that can be implemented by 2030. According to the secretary-general, the meeting should result in “a bold Water Action Agenda, which gives the lifeblood of our world the commitment it deserves”. The Brazilian delegation at the conference has around 50 representatives, including government and civil society members. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out that around three out of four natural disasters are linked to water. For Guterres, there is a gap in water management, and governments need to develop and implement plans that guarantee equitable access to the resource. The secretary general also proposed massive investment in water and sanitation systems, recalling that the richest nations must mobilize resources to support emerging economies. *With information from UN News

Agência Brasil