{"id":93934,"date":"2020-03-30T09:41:25","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T08:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/\/world-water-day-oped\/"},"modified":"2020-03-30T09:41:25","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T08:41:25","slug":"world-water-day-oped","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/world-water-day-oped\/","title":{"rendered":"World Water day: The Mediterranean can\u2019t wait, it must act, lead and it must do so together"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”World Water day: The Mediterranean can\u2019t wait, it must act, lead and it must do so together ” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:44|text_align:left|color:%23444444|line_height:1″ google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1561128696939{margin-left: 00px !important;border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;border-left-color: #d1cccc !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #d1cccc !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #d1cccc !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #d1cccc !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”]By\u00a0the UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel.\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1585560043949{padding-top: 0px !important;}”]Published by\u00a0Asharq\u00a0<\/span><\/span>A<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>-A<\/span><\/span>wsat\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he burden on\u00a0<\/span>precious\u00a0<\/span>natural resources<\/span>, water being first among them,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is becoming ever more apparent with the passing of each\u00a0<\/span>record-breaking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>summer<\/span>\u00a0as\u00a0<\/span>climate change and\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>overexploitation of eco<\/span>systems<\/span>\u00a0combine to<\/span>\u00a0devastating effect<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Yet, if<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>challenge we face is clear<\/span>\u00a0and the need for urgency paramount<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0why have solutions so far often proven elusive?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

World Water Day\u00a0<\/span>2020\u00a0<\/span>is about water and climate change, and how the two are inextricably linked. This year\u2019s slogan\u00a0<\/span>leaves no room for ambiguity:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>We cannot afford to wait<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>. This sense of urgency\u00a0<\/span>reflects\u00a0<\/span>the Union for the Mediterranean\u2019s vision for the water sector in our region. Whilst providing focus on traditional water management tools, such as the development of additional water supplies and the effective management of water demand, the Union for the Mediterranean also\u00a0<\/span>works to underline<\/span>\u00a0the importance of increased regional cooperation to address\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0common\u00a0<\/span>and inescapable\u00a0<\/span>challenge<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The Union for the Mediterranean\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>own\u00a0<\/span>Water Agenda<\/span><\/b>\u00a0recognises this as it\u00a0<\/span>aims to ensure that each and every\u00a0<\/span>Euro-<\/span>Mediterranean country receives the necessary technical, administrative, and financial\u00a0<\/span>support\u00a0<\/span>recommendations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>help\u00a0<\/span>achieve water security for its population and their economic activities<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond global trends in climate change, t<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0situation is further compounded<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0the Mediterranean\u00a0<\/span>as the\u00a0<\/span>region is\u00a0<\/span>expected to see more severe impacts than those forecast elsewhere, including the scarcity of natural water resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If the world continues on its current path, projections suggest that the Mediterranean region alone may face<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0decrease\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>up to 15% in fresh water availability<\/span>. But, what will this look like in human terms? Estimates suggest o<\/span>ver 250 million people will be considered\u00a0<\/span>\u2018<\/span>water poor<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0within 20 years<\/span>, that\u2019s around the combined populations of Egypt, France and Turkey with limited access to a basic necessity of life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But our efforts must be made in unison.<\/span>\u00a0J<\/span>ust as this year\u2019s World Water Day sparks discussions that must lead to concrete and measurable actions, not more pledges or promises, t<\/span>he Union for the Mediterranean\u00a0<\/span>will strive to take full advantage of\u00a0<\/span>this year\u00a0<\/span>in which it commemorates\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>25<\/span><\/b>th<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Anniversary of the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>launch of the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Barcelona Process<\/span><\/b><\/a>, the political accord that gave birth to it as a platform positioned uniquely to foster the kind of\u00a0<\/span>Euro-Mediterranean cooperation<\/span>\u00a0our region\u00a0<\/span>so desperately\u00a0<\/span>needs. By bringing together the necessary range of\u00a0<\/span>experts<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>learn from each other\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>experiences<\/span>, we can\u00a0<\/span>develop common strategies and<\/span>\u00a0we will share the rewards of progress in the field of water security<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to better understand these changes and<\/span>\u00a0tackle<\/span>\u00a0the corresponding challenges, the Union for the Mediterranean, within the framework of the ministerial mandate entrusted to it, has supported the work of a network of scientists from the region (<\/span>MedECC<\/span><\/b>)<\/span>\u00a0who\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>deliver<\/span>\u00a0this year<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0the first ever<\/a><\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0scientific report on the impact of climate change in the region<\/span>\u00a0and its summary for policymakers<\/span>. This endeavour relies on the power of\u00a0<\/span>multi-disciplinary competences to show decision-makers the<\/span>\u00a0mutual\u00a0<\/span>benefits and trade-offs\u00a0<\/span>that are to be gained if\u00a0<\/span>future energy, food and ecosystem security plans<\/span>\u00a0are integrated with<\/span>\u00a0water policies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Average annual t<\/span>emperatures are now 1.4 degrees higher than that of the pre-industrial era and\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>the acidity of seawater increases,\u00a0<\/span>it is set to<\/span>\u00a0affect the survival of certain species.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Over the next few decades, summer\u00a0<\/span>rainfall is estimated to decrease by\u00a0<\/span>10<\/span>%<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>30% in some regions<\/span>. Needless to say,\u00a0<\/span>this\u00a0<\/span>which\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>further\u00a0<\/span>exacerbate existing water shortages and decrease agricultural productivity<\/span>. Add to this the<\/span>\u00a0environmental challenges\u00a0<\/span>posed by factors such as\u00a0<\/span>changing land use, growing urbani<\/span>s<\/span>ation and tourism, agricultural intensification, degradation of land and\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>pollution\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>air, land, rivers and oceans<\/span>, then very quickly, the situation can appear bleak in the absence of action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Widespread\u00a0<\/span>and reinvigorated\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>ustainable development\u00a0<\/span>is needed in the region more than ever. But\u00a0<\/span>the task at hand<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cannot be\u00a0<\/span>understood never mind\u00a0<\/span>achieved\u00a0<\/span>if we\u00a0<\/span>plan<\/span>\u00a0the management of water, energy, food and ecosystems as separate resources. As these\u00a0<\/span>areas<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>so\u00a0<\/span>strongly interlinked, water allocation regimes will have to improve<\/span>, even be restructured,<\/span>\u00a0in order to cope with current and future shifts in water availability and demand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If we can overcome the urgent challenges it faces, especially those related to climate change, the Mediterranean<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will surely\u00a0<\/span>assume a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>decisive influence in shaping the world of tomorrow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”71065″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1539955519436{border-bottom-width: 1px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;border-bottom-color: #d6d6d6 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Nasser Kamel<\/h4>\n

Nasser Kamel is the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean.<\/em><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”World Water day: The Mediterranean can\u2019t wait, it must act, lead and it must do so together ” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:44|text_align:left|color:%23444444|line_height:1″ google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1561128696939{margin-left: 00px !important;border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;border-left-color: #d1cccc !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #d1cccc !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #d1cccc !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color:
Lire la suite<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"priority-area":[],"class_list":["post-93934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-classifiee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93934"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93935,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93934\/revisions\/93935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93934"},{"taxonomy":"priority-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufmsecretariat.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/priority-area?post=93934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}