2021 World Water Day “Valuing Water”

Director-General’s Statement at the 2021 World Water Day “Valuing Water”

Virtual Meeting, 22 March 2021, 13:00 Rome Time

As delivered

 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is an honour for FAO to host this high-level event to mark World Water Day 2021, and I welcome our distinguished speakers.

2. ‘Valuing Water’ the theme of this year is highly relevant. I just said, “No water, no life. No water, no civilization to continue”.

3. The diverse perspectives we will hear today show the multidimensional value of water, across sectors, cultures and regions of our blue planet.

4. Safeguarding water means safeguarding humanity.

5. Succeeding in this critical task depends on a number of elements:

• Good governance, which is based on inclusiveness, transparency and accountability to manage interdependence and trade-offs
• Cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms for policy coherence at all levels
• Modern technologies to optimize water usage and big data to offer the best scientific advice available
• Broad partnerships that are built on trust and mutual benefit; and
• Human capacity development and education at large to mainstream responsible water use. In addition, consider water is not only commodities, it is also an unrepeatable resource for our life.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. FAO’s 2020 State of Food and Agriculture Flagship Report on overcoming water challenges in agriculture states that the lives of over one billion people are severely constrained by water scarcity or water shortages.

7. Intensifying water constraints threaten food security and nutrition and require urgent action.

8. Population growth and changing diets will increase water needs, intensifying competition among water users. 

9. Insufficient and unreliable access to water impedes the livelihoods of many millions of small-scale farmers, fishers and herders.

10. Challenges in access to water and increasing pollution are seen all along the food supply chain – including food processing – affecting food security, nutrition, health and ecosystem services, and posing major risks to vulnerable populations.

11. FAO is working with Members and partners to create stronger and more resilient rural communities addressing water scarcity, improving livelihood opportunities and sustaining ecosystems:

• FAO’s - Global Framework on Water Scarcity Partnership Programme accelerates joint actions to cope with water scarcity in agriculture in a changing climate.
• FAO’s Water Productivity Portal uses open access to remotely sensed data to assist Members monitor water productivity and reduce water stress.
• Our Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform contains a rich set of data on food, agriculture, socioeconomics, and natural resources to help strengthen evidence-based decision-making. The Platform provides vital information to monitor agricultural water productivity, including agricultural systems at risk due to human pressure on land and water, and to ascertain aquatic species distribution.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

12. Water is an essential element for every aspect of development for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

13. We need to create synergy by joining hands and working together.

14. We need the ingenuity of the private sector, the drive of civil society and the solidarity of the international community.

15. In that respect, I am delighted that the Green Climate Fund Board has just approved an FAO-led project of USD 33 million to scale up adaptation processes on climate resilient water management for food security in Jordan, last Friday, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world.

16. Let us lead by good examples and good demonstrations. Let us value every drop of water and keep our planet blue and clean.

17. Let’s make everyday World Water Day.

18. In addition, I appreciate that Mr Houngbo joined our celebration, and common mission. We work together.

Thank you.