By Kate Obande
ZARAGOZA (SPAIN) – Water scarcity has been identified as a key challenge for the continued growth and health development in Africa and the Middle East, according to United Nations report.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
The report was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the opening ceremony of the [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
2015 UN Water Annual International Conference in Zaragoza on Thursday.
The report stated that while Africa and the Middle East faced the problem of health development,[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Europe decision makers were battling with the issue of sustainable power generation.
It said that the wrangling in Europe was due to the fact that hydro-power was increasingly being[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
considered as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
The report said that water was at the heart of adaptation to climate change, as it was a crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment.
Josefina Maestu, Director and Coordinator UN Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), in her address at the opening ceremony, said water was a significant tool in global development.
She emphasised that water was a limited and irreplaceable resource that was fundamental to human well being, if well managed.
”Water can pose a serious challenge to sustainable development.
”But managed efficiently and equitably can play a key role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems in the light of rapid and unpredictable changes,”she said.
Maestu said the aim of the conference was to bring together stakeholders in the sector to share ideas and knowledge on how to attain the post- 2015 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for water.
She said the participation of different stakeholders presenting their views on progress and lessons learnt during the years of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), would help in attaining the post 2015 goals.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , reports that the sustainable development goal 6, addresses water and states to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The theme of the 2015 conference is; “Water and Sustainable Development: from vision to action”.
NAN also reports that more than 300 participants from different parts of the world are participating in the conference. (NAN)