Promoting a Global Dialogue on Water
Water scarcity has been surfacing more and more as a serious
global issue in recent years. That scarcity has caused significant
business disruptions across all sectors and geographies, and with
all the associated technical, economic, political, environmental
and social implications. This reality is projected to worsen in the
future, as a result of climate change and demographics.
The UN Human Development Report 2006 stresses this
critical issue: “Better access to water and sanitation would act as
the catalyst for a giant advance in human development, creating
opportunities for gains in public health, education and economic
growth.” Experience from the climate change debate has shown
that translating awareness to specific action takes many years.
There is a major challenge in catalysing effective action on
a global level. Governments play an important role in helping to
mitigate and adapt to the challenge, but so does the private sector,
through individual company actions and through innovative
public-private partnerships.
Such partnerships can offer a useful solution. Since late 2005,
the Forum’s Water Initiative has focused on creating networks
in South Africa and India. The objective has been to catalyze
ideas for public-private water infrastructure projects and shape
them into well-developed, bankable project propositions, and
financing plans.
http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/water/GlobalDialogue/index.htm Access: july, 2008. (Adapted)
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