I spoke today at the International Water Forum held at the United Nations. The Forum was organized by the Energy and Water Institute of New York and The Chronicles Group in cooperation with The World Water Organization (WWO), and WaterAid America.
The International Water Forum at the United Nations convened policy makers, academics, non-governmental organizations, and private sector representatives toward organizing a worldwide education and awareness campaign on the global water crisis.
I outlined such key challenges as: by 2025, as much as two-thirds of the world’s population could be living under water stress – conditions where water has become an impediment to socio-economic development. Over 800 million people around the world lack access to an improved water source, and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. The lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene causes an estimated 2.1 million deaths every year. The worst drought in over half a century in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia has left over 12.7 million people in need of emergency assistance.
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