CRI听力:Water Security in Cities Discussed in World Water Week

As more than half of the world's 7 billion population are living in cities and that number is expected to reach 80 percent of the world's population in 2050, water security in cities has caused great concern among water experts.

Anders Berntell, Executive Director of Stockholm International Water Institute, host of the World Water Week pointed out the severe reality.

"More than 800 million people live in slums today, and we all know that the situation in these urban areas too often leads to water related diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and cholera epidemics, having devastating effects on the livelihood of families but also severe effects on the economies of their countries. Cities expand, but the available volume of water does not."

Berntell also thinks that cities provide mankind many opportunities such as high economic growth, efficient use of water and energy with new technologies as waste water treatment not only cleans the water but also produces biogas for cars and busses in the cities.

Thus he called on political leaders to effectively organize the city with strong political will to help the poor in the cities.

Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson stressed in her speech that increased access to clean water supplies and sanitation is an important catalytic force for development.

"Together, poor water quality and sanitation are the second largest cause of child mortality and also contribute to high levels of maternal mortality. Women and girls require particular attention as they often have the primary responsibility for collecting household water supplies."

She said that developing countries can develop towards green economy while western countries such as Sweden can support developing countries in the transition towards a green economy thanks to Sweden's own experience of environmentally friendly technology and urban development.

She said efficient use of and equitable access to water and sanitation in urban areas must be put high on the agenda of the UN conference on Sustainable Development next year.

During the week, more than 100 seminars are being held discussing water issues in Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as the whole world since climate change is affecting everybody and every country and aggravating the water issues.

The week long annual water conference will end on Saturday.

For CRI, this is Chen Xuefei reporting from Stockholm.