Skip to content

Health

World Water Day 2011: African cities see increase in 'water poor'

by Martin Leggett 21 Mar 2011
World Water Day 2011: African cities see increase in 'water poor'

The day before World Water Day 2011World Water Day 2011, this Tuesday Mar-22, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) has released a report, Green Hills, Blue Cities which focuses on the plight of the 'water poor' in African cities. The report, produced together with UN-Habitat, outlines the water challenges facing Africa's burgeoning urban population.

It holds out hope for a 'Green Economy' solution to the increasing numbers suffering water poverty. Those solutions look away from big finance and water engineering works, and towards community-led, ecosystem-focused efforts - ones that could more quickly plug the gap between the water-haves, and the water-have-nots.

Africa is the world's fastest urbanizing continent, and that pace of growth has left fundamental services neglected for many, says the report. Since 1990, the number of city-dwellers without clean drinking water has leaped from 30 million to 55 million; and the number without adequate sanitation jumped from 85 million to 175 million. It is these numbers which the report is calling for action on, as part of next year's Rio+20 conference.

Achim Steiner, the UNEP Executive Director, said ''These are the stark realities and the sobering facts which need to be addressed as nations prepare for the landmark UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012.'' That conference is seeking to map out Sustainable Development, within the background of a changing climate, exactly 20 years after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

Efforts to improve the situation don't need to be expensive and time consuming - but they do need a change in outlook, across governments and NGOs. The report suggests looking at urban water issues through an ecosystems prism. That means assessing the provision of water supplies from the water-shed, to the sea, and including urban communities affected in the process.

So for example, actions to preserve water-sheds, which often lie outside of city boundaries, should be taken. These play a natural role in the cleaning of water supplies destined for urban consumption, and in preventing the silting of river courses. The communities living in those areas should be rewarded economically for helping preserve those water services. Similarly, those living in the cities should be encouraged to take part in demand management, and to increase local supply, though rain-water harvesting, and wast-water recycling schemes.

Mr Steiner stressed the relatively low cost of such approaches ''... public policies that re-direct only a tenth of a per cent of global GDP per year can assist in not only addressing the sanitation challenge but conserve freshwater by reducing water demand by a fifth over the coming decades compared to projected trends.''


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping