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“Governments have to realize that nature has a vital role to play in giving people clean drinking water, food and livelihoods,” says Julia �Ѳ����ٴDz�-�����è������, Director General of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��. “We don’t want an engineered agenda. If we invest in the natural environment we will see countless benefits – and leave a better world for future generations.”

More than 900 million people around the world lack access to a safe and adequate water supply and two-thirds of the world's population will face water shortages by 2025.

“The situation is only going to get worse in the face of the growing threats posed by climate change,” says Mark Smith, Head of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s Water Programme. “But if we look after the world’s river basins, lakes and wetlands, we stand a better chance of being able to cope with the effects of global warming. These areas can act as shields to help protect us from floods and store precious drinking water.”

Pressure on water resources is increasing rapidly as the world’s population grows, nature is destroyed and households, agriculture, industry and power generation demand more water.

“We need to find ways to make sure that everybody gets their fair share of water – but at the same time, make sure that the environment doesn’t miss out,” adds Smith. “The message from Istanbul is clear. As ministers prepare for the key climate change conference this December in Copenhagen, they must make sure water is firmly on the climate change agenda.”

“The end of the world isn’t nigh but it will be dry if nothing is done to protect this most precious of resources,” adds �Ѳ����ٴDz�-�����è������. “In this time of economic crises, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� calls on business leaders and governments to invest in nature as the best way of promoting a healthy economic future.”

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

• Sarah Horsley, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Media Relations, m +41 79 528 3486, e [email protected]
• Brian Thomson, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Media Relations, m +41 79 721 8326, e [email protected]
• Claire Warmenbol, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Water Programme, m + 41 79 404 1973, e [email protected] ��

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