Protecting water resources to ensure sustainable development

(Baonghean.vn) -On the morning of March 21, in Vinh City, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment chaired a discussion on the theme of World Water Day 2014 “Water and Energy”. Participating in the discussion were representatives of the Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department and the departments of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Education and Training, the Provincial Women’s Union, the North Central Hydrometeorological Station and Nghe An Water Supply Company.

Overview of the seminar.

Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has issued a resolution to make March 22nd World Water Day (or World Clean Water Day). World Water Day 2014 has the theme “Water and Energy” with an emphasis on the relationship between water and energy in the context of sustainable development; at the same time, calling on countries to have harmonious policy adjustments between water and energy towards a green economy. Water and energy are two important factors in promoting the socio-economic development of countries. The interaction between water and energy can promote or hinder the economic, social, security, food development... of a country.

At the seminar, delegates focused on affirming the role of water as an essential part of life, the most important material for many production activities. Although it is a renewable resource, water resources are not infinite. Excessive and unreasonable exploitation and use of water, exceeding the regeneration and self-recovery capacity of water resources, leads to increasingly serious water shortages, water pollution, and saltwater intrusion.

In addition to highlighting the importance as well as the risks and challenges to the global water resources, the delegates also highlighted the current situation of water resource use and water resource management in the province in recent times. In particular, in recent years, responding to the annual World Water Day event, Nghe An has implemented many practical programs and activities to raise awareness and interest of the whole society in protecting and using water resources economically and advocating policies on sustainable management of water resources, especially freshwater resources.

Also at the seminar, emphasizing the relationship between "Water and Energy"; the challenges in safe access to water and energy and the significance of water resources to human life, delegates proposed many specific solutions to create the attention of each level, each sector, agency, organization, unit and each individual to manage and protect water resources, promoting sustainable development.

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