UN Secretary General warns of looming water crisis

As water becomes increasingly scarce, greater priority must be given to the sustainable and equitable management of water resources.

Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Porter

The UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon spoke out at Davos warning the private sector of the 'looming water crisis'. As water becomes increasingly scarce, greater priority must be given to the sustainable and equitable management of water resources.

Greater competition through the demands of agriculture and industry, along with the effects of climate change, are exacerbating drinking water shortages in the developing countries where WaterAid works.

In a world where 1.1 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water and where 5,000 children are dying each day as a result of water-borne diseases, the first priority of government should be to ensure their citizens' access to safe and affordable drinking water.

The private sector has a critical role to play, alongside government, in safe-guarding the rights of all - particularly the vulnerable and marginalised. As water is increasingly viewed as a commodity that can be bought, sold and traded, so drinking water as a human right must be recognised and protected.