Experts warn of water bankruptcy for many regions
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 25, 2012
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River basins, lakes and aquifers are experiencing growing pressures due to urbanization, rising water scarcity and poor water quality. [UN photo] |
A report was launched on the opening day of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters Science Conference held in Bangkok on Monday based on a study of almost 200 major international water-related projects over the past 20 years, which has identified a suite of existing and emerging challenges and how science can offer remedies.
The Global Environment Facility, the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment and promote sustainable development, partnered with the United Nations University and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to extract lessons from a portfolio of major transboundary water projects involving investments of more than US$7 billion.
Insufficient and disjointed management of human demands on water and aquatic systems has led to situations where both social and ecological systems are in jeopardy and have even collapsed, says the report. River basins in particular are set to experience growing pressures due to urbanization, rising water scarcity and poor water quality.
Investing in science, in order to identify emerging issues and track trends relating to the use of water resources, can help to reduce such risks, according to the study. Links between science and policymaking also need to be strengthened.
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