Budapest Hosts Summit to Prevent World Conflict Over Water

Government leaders, experts and business representatives from more than 100 countries are gathering in Budapest to discuss how to prevent a crisis and a global conflict over water.

Delegates attending the three-day Budapest Water Summit have already heard messages from world leaders, including Hungary's president, who described water as "the most endangered natural resource" and urged immediate action to increase water security.

Some 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries have heard appeals from church leaders to help ensure water security. Pope Francis and Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, urged those attending to recognize the value of water in sustainable development.

Hungarian Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy Levente Magyar, right, and Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Shahidul Haque shake hands after signing a Memorandum of Understanding - AP

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon agrees. In a video message he said it was crucial to restructure the way the world uses natural resources. "We must transform how we manage our resources. We must invest in water and sanitation for the benefit of all," he added.

But Hungary's President  János Áder suggested there isn't much time to formulate a strategy. He warned that the global population growth and increased demand for food will increase water consumption by 30 percent by 2030. And  Áder claimed that the industry will need at least 50 percent more water by 2050, further complicating efforts to combat climate change. “If we lose the battle of water, than certainly we will also be defeated on the climate front," he warned.

Áder also called water "the most endangered natural resource". He said it was crucial "to transform the issue of water into the most important question of political thought and action."

BANGLADESH CONCERNED

That was welcomed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh where most people have no access to clean water. "Our countries are intensely challenged," she said. "There is an urgent need to build resilience to water-related disasters, climate change adaptation efforts should be accorded due priority."

But the United Nations warned that the world will face an uphill battle to secure water supplies and prevent more global conflicts as it already deals with climate change.

Though critics remain skeptical, the UN released figures suggesting an average rise in temperatures of 3 to 4 degrees Celsius this century rather than the 1.5 to 2 Celsius outlined in the  Paris Agreement on climate change.

Speakers at the Water Summit agreed that urgent coordinated current actions to needed to guarantee a sustainable future of mankind in this troubled world.

Source: RV

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Taxonomy

• Water
• Water Security
• Drought
• Climate Change
• Transboundary Water Resources Management
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Climate Change Resilience
• Water Quality Management
• Flood damage
• Water-Energy-Food-Security
• Water
• Water
• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)