“This is a challenge that we can overcome with ingenuity and determination, and call for solutions based on science and solidarity,” said Csaba Kőrösi. an important speech at the high-level symposium on “Integrated water cycle management in theCOVID-19 era.”
He said when the United Nations Sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been developed, the full extent of climate change impacts through droughts and floods is not yet striking enough to permit the inclusion of unambiguous flood- and drought-related indicators. enter SDG6Objectives related to water and sanitation.
He compared the current challenge to the ill-fated lunar mission Apollo13, which managed to return to Earth after encountering a catastrophic mechanical failure.
“In 1970, ingenuity and decisive action brought the surviving astronauts back to Earth,” he said, noting that the same determination would be needed to deal with the threat of flooding. .
Besides the threats posed by climate change, he pointed out that poor flood prevention and management and reckless land use are also leading to disaster risks.
More commitments are expected at the Water Conference
Calling for solutions based on resilience, sustainability and inclusivity, he stressed the essential need to strengthen transnational alliances, such as the United Nations. water wish in 1992, administered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and reiterated his call for a global water information system.
In five weeks, the General Assembly will convene the landmark United Nations Water Conferencewith Japan co-chairing the summit’s interactive dialogue on climate, resilience and the environment, he said, encouraging Japanese leadership in these areas.
He expressed hope that Water Conference will produce “the commit that will enable us to catalyze the global water information system, the early warning of every initiative, and forge the scientific partnerships we all need to face what’s to come. .”
In his video message, Li Junhua, Deputy Secretary-General in charge of economic and social affairs, said that the main outcome of the Water Conference was Action program for watera platform that collects action-oriented voluntary commitments.
“If we are really serious about changing the game on water and flood management, then I count on you, my dear colleagues, to deliver on visionary and rich commitments,” he said. your wildest imaginations come to the Conference in March.”
