UN Secretary-General António Guterres is grateful to the Netherlands for co-organising the UN water conference over the past three days. Together with its host country, Tajikistan, the Netherlands “brought the world together to solve water problems and strengthen international cooperation,” according to Guterres. “Thanks for that guide.”
A total of 193 countries were represented at the water conference. The conference also had 6,600 other attendees, including companies, organizations, scientists and investors.
“Water connects us all,” says Guterres, for example in the areas of hygiene, food production, the fight against poverty or equality between men and women. The correct use of water also plays a central role in the fight against climate change, he points out.
King opens the conference
King Willem-Alexander opened the conference on Wednesday, together with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. The latter says in Friday’s conclusion that this conference is “just the beginning” and further action will follow to generate more attention for good water stewardship. The king was not there at closing on Friday: he already left on Thursday.
The conference resulted in more than 700 pledges from various countries and organizations. A total of 300 billion euros has also been pledged by investors for numerous projects. The Netherlands has earmarked €50 million for countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda to absorb the damage caused by too much or too little water.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
