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MaximsNewsWATER
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ASIA-PACIFIC
WATER SUMMIT: REGION'S FRAGILE FRESHWATER RESOURCES THREATENED BY CLIMATE
CHANGE: 14/12/2007 (MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 14 December 2007 -- Water
problems in the Asia Pacific region are severe, with one out of five people in
the region not having access to safe drinking water, and half of the population
without access to adequate sanitation. In addition, the region has increasingly
suffered from water-related disasters.
Unless
something is done soon, the severe water problems across the Asia-Pacific region
will considerably worsen under the influence of climate change. This was the
message from several Heads of State attending the first day of the 1st
Asia-Pacific Water Summit.
Climate
variability and change is already affecting water resources and their management
in many parts of the region, as notably illustrated by the large-scale retreat
of Himalayan glaciers and the growing threat of sea level rise to small island
countries and low-lying areas.
Prime
Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, His Excellency Lyonpo Dr. Kinzang
Dorji, raised the effects of climate change faced by his country and brought
about by global warming. “Our glaciers are rapidly receding thereby posing
grave threats to human settlements in the downstream valleys caused by events
such as the glacial lake outbursts and flash floods”, he explained.
The
specific vulnerability to climate change for small islands was highlighted by
the President Federated States of Micronesia, His Excellency Mr. Emanuel Mori.
In his speech he emphasized:
“While
we are blessed, with our natural surroundings, we are also faced today with
daunting challenges that have now come to characterize how we, as small islands
developing states, interact in the global arena. Climate change is the new buzz
word around the globe, and it has now taken its rightful place at the forefront
of the global agenda. There is no longer doubt in anyone’s mind that the
adverse impacts of climate change are real and already happening”.
Representing another
small island country, the President of the
Republic
of
Palau
, His Excellency Mr. Tommy Esang Remengesau, illustrated “how every country,
no matter how large or small, depends for its very existence and livelihood on
the availability of fresh water.
Just as we must
carefully manage our marine resources, we must carefully protect and manage our
freshwater sources” he said, adding that “while it seems to rain a lot in
Palau
, we simply cannot count on freshwater literally falling from the sky and
solving our water management problems.”
President
Ludwig Scotty of the Republic of Nauru, a country frequently plagued by water
shortages due to the occurrence of extended periods of droughts, pointed out
that studies and assessments to identify alternate water sources and the
formulation of a master sanitation plan were examples of initiatives taking
place in his country, as part of its wider strategy to improve water resources
management and protection of the groundwater.
He
stressed that “although these activities have helped to strengthen and improve
the overall governance of water on
Nauru
, much more needs to be done, particularly in the area of adaptation and
mitigation to climate change”.
Palau
is also aware of the necessity
to prepare for natural disaster emergencies involving water. The large number of
drought and tropical storms hitting small islands in recent years has
significantly increased the need and demand for services of our National
Disaster Management Offices.
Mr
Tommy Esang Remengesau said explained that this office works closely with the
private sector and civil society to ensure that national water rationing would
be effectively enforced during times of drought. We need greater capacity in
this area, as management of water resources in times of natural disasters must
be addressed at the earliest possible time.
Mr.
Remengesau concluded that “there is no more important topic than assuring an
adequate and safe water supply to our region. The
Summit
’s priority themes, water financing, water related disaster management and
water for development and ecosystems, encompass the urgent water issues and
needs of the region well”.
Niue
’s Premier Mr.
Young Vivian strongly urged “those countries that are still yet to ratify the
Kyoto Protocol to do so. It is the only means that is currently in place to
address Adverse Impacts of Climate Change particularly on the small island
states and low lying coastal areas of most developing countries”.
He further exclaimed
that “already we have approximately 655 million people in the Asia Pacific
Region that have no access to safe drinking water. To add more to that number as
a result of the adverse impacts of Climate Change will pose a very difficult
challenge for our governments to address now and in the future”.
The
Asia-Pacific is the most vulnerable region in the world with regards to
water-related disasters that hinder sustainable development and poverty
reduction.
Between
1960 and 2006, over 600 thousand casualties were recorded, accounting for over
80% of casualties from water-related disasters worldwide, in addition to US$ 8
billion worth of economic damage during the same period. Severe water-related
disaster events such as floods, droughts, tsunamis, windstorms, landslides, 3/3
storm-surges, water-born
diseases and epidemics have escalated since the turn of the 21st century.
The
Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) is working to increase the region’s access to
improved water supplies and sanitation, protect and restore river basins, and
reduce people’s vulnerability to water-related disasters.
The
APWF champions efforts aimed at boosting investments, building capacity,
increasing public outreach and enhancing cooperation in the water sector at the
regional level.
*
Asia-Pacific Water Forum Secretariat;
Japan
Water Forum
Attn:
Sophia Sandstrom / Taeko Yokota TEL：03-5212-1645
FAX：03-5212-16491645 FAX：03-5212-1649,
e-mail press@waterforum.jp,
http://www.apwf.org
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
Water and
Sanitation, Asia-Pacific
Water Summit, Fresh
water shortage, global
warming
~~~~~
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O'Connor, Genevieve Stamper, Max Stamper and
others.
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