Sponsored by The GREENS
Every
day women spend 200 million
hours carrying water.
hours carrying water.
In developing nations the
responsibility for collecting water every day falls disproportionately on women
and girls. On average women in these regions spend 25 percent of their day
collecting water for their families. This is time not spent working at an income-generating
job, caring for family or attending school. Investments in water and sanitation
show substantial economic gains. Every dollar invested shows a return between
US$5 and US$28.
Climate change negatively impacts
fresh water sources. Current projections show that freshwater-related risks
rise significantly with increasing greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating
competition for water among all uses and users, affecting regional water,
energy and food securities. Combined with increased demands for water, this
will create huge challenges for water resources management.
Natural hazards are inevitable but
much can be done to reduce the high number of death and destruction tolls.
Ill-advised human activity can both create and accelerate the impact of water-related
disasters. These water threats have been increasing with climate change and
human activities, in the North and South of our planet, from East to West. But,
with preparedness and planning, fatalities and destruction can be decreased.
The global community has committed itself to the principles of coherent
disaster prevention and response. The need is now for concrete and significant
changes to make this happen.