Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

6 June 2022

Excellencies,

Dear friends,

 

Today 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water. Consequently, 700 million people are at risk of being displaced due to water scarcity, even as our population grows and the demands on water further increase.

 

We cannot blame this only on the pandemic. Even prior to Covid-19, we were not on-track to meet our SDG targets, including with regard to SDG6: on clean water and sanitation. The pandemic only compounded the consequences of our failures and inaction. 

 

Inaction that has been further exacerbated by the climate crisis.

 

Global warming and unpredictable weather patterns directly affect the availability and distribution of rainfall, snowmelt, river flows and groundwater, and causes a deterioration in water quality.

 

And, as is too often the case, it is those most vulnerable who are hit hardest.

 

We cannot ignore the challenges we face.

 

Changes in water availability can have disastrous consequences on public health, economic development and food security, and will continue to trigger migration, displacement, and political instability.

 

We have a responsibility to resolve this issue, to advocate for greater water awareness, and to emphasize water-related issues as a cross-cutting topic in our multilateral discussions.

 

It is not too late to enact change. But time is of the essence, and we must act now to implement effective strategies and best practices.

 

Next year in March, we will gather in New York to review the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development.

 

This High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, will be a key milestone in the preparation for the review next year. This will be an opportunity to understand what remains to be done, and the ways in which we can meet the gaps, and address the challenges.

 

Let us work together by embracing science and technology, adopting a resilient system to multi-hazards, and implementing evidence-based policy making that will address water security.

 

Let us build partnerships at national, regional and global levels to secure a healthy environment for future generations.

 

Last but not the least, we need to invest significant efforts to raise awareness and change attitudes. We need to appreciate the tremendous value water has for our lives, families, communities and nations. Only with this attitude can we create the desire to care for water, and not waste it.

 

Together, we can build an inclusive and effective path to achieving the 2030 Agenda in the context of the water action decade.

 

I thank you.