That was the message from United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi during his recent official visit to Salt Lake City in Utah, USA, where he met with senior state officials, students and academics, and local community members.
Migration due to climate change
“There are commonalities because the whole world is facing a water crisis, caused by climate change and changes in our water cycle,” said Mr. Kőrösi.
“I don't want to scare anyone, but if we don't solve the water management crisis, in the next 60 to 70 years hundreds of millions of people will be displaced,” Mr. Kőrösi warned.
A senior UN official has called for support for a global water information system, created as part of the UN system. A new study published in the American journal Science found that climate change is the main factor behind the shrinkage of more than half of the world's large lakes and reservoirs since the 1990s.
This is one of nine factors that have a great influence on the final outcome agreed upon at the United Nations Water Conference held in New York (USA) in March 2023. These nine factors include: Integrating water and climate policies at the national and global levels; early warning systems for all; decoupling agriculture, energy production and water; accurate water pricing; a global water education network; supporting cross-border cooperation; creating a unified water architecture managed by a Special Envoy with an independent scientific advisory board; what to do next after the United Nations Water Conference.
Provide balanced and long-term solutions
The president of the UN General Assembly made the request after meeting with water experts from the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Utah is currently experiencing its 23rd year of drought due to climate change, with dire consequences for the Colorado River and the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.
While higher air temperatures bring more rainfall, the heat also means more evaporation, as dry soils cannot absorb water.
Drought-stricken Utah is now facing flooding after historic amounts of rain and snow in early spring. Further complicating matters, management of the Colorado River system is enshrined in the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which gave authority to two nations and seven states and regulated water levels that — due to climate change and overuse — are no longer viable.
Local officials say they are focusing on “long-term, balanced solutions,” with discussions involving agricultural use, water treatment and reuse, and promoting water conservation through legal tools and public information.
Mr. Kőrösi also mentioned sustainable development in mountains, a theme highlighted in the 2022 UN Secretary-General’s report. Representatives from rural communities highlighted one of the challenges: limited development and social inclusion, exacerbated by lockdowns and power cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alitha Thompson, who lives in the rural Gunnison Valley, said policies need to be inclusive. “Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Everyone’s voice needs to be heard,” she stressed.
About a third of Utah's population lives in the mountains; some communities suffer from levels of poverty more common in developing countries, Thompson said.
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