Today, 40% of the world’s population is affected by water scarcity, and 80% of wastewater is discharged into the environment without being treated, according to the new report by the High-Level Panel on Water submitted Wednesday to UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
«Water scarcity is a matter of life and death», Mr. Guterres said on the occasion of the release of the report “Making Every Drop Count: An Action Agenda for Water.”.
For the Secretary-General, this report serves as a wake-up call to find and implement solutions to the global water crisis. The 12 members of the Group have sounded a genuine alarm, calling for fundamental change to avert the devastating consequences of this shortage.
Their report highlights the many facets of the water crisis. More than two billion people are forced to drink unsafe water, and more than 4.5 billion lack access to safe sanitation services.
By 2030, 700 million people are at risk of being displaced due to water shortages.
Women and girls suffer disproportionately when water and sanitation are lacking. To address the water crisis, the Group proposes, among other things, to double investments in water infrastructure over the next five years and to forge new, innovative, and inclusive partnerships that include both municipalities and the agricultural sector. «Whoever you are, whatever you do, or wherever you live, we urge you to get involved and help meet this great challenge: safe drinking water and sanitation for all, and the sustainable management of our water resources.», the Group's members stated in an open letter.
«Make every drop count. It’s time to take action.»
