<
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/largest-river-and-wetland-restoration-initiative-history-launched-un>
'New York, 23 March 2023 - A coalition of governments today launched the
Freshwater Challenge - the largest ever initiative to restore degraded rivers,
lakes and wetlands, which are central to tackling the world’s worsening water,
climate and nature crises.
Announced at the UN Water Conference in New York, the Freshwater Challenge aims
to restore 300,000km of rivers - equivalent to more than 7 times around the
Earth - and 350 million hectares of wetlands - an area larger than India - by
2030.
Along with water supplies, healthy freshwater ecosystems provide a wealth of
benefits to people and nature, and are critical to mitigating and adapting to
climate change, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet
one-third of the world’s wetlands have been lost over the past 50 years, and we
are still losing them faster than forests. Rivers and lakes are the most
degraded ecosystems in the world, with fish populations, many of which are
vital for community food security, pushed to the brink.
Released this week, the IPCC’s sixth assessment report outlines the serious
impacts of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the need to
protect and restore them to enhance adaptation and build resilient societies,
economies and ecosystems.
Championed by the governments of Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Ecuador, Gabon, Mexico and Zambia, the Freshwater Challenge calls on all
governments to commit to clear targets in their updated National Biodiversity
Strategies and Action Plans, National Determined Contributions and National
Implementation Plan for the SDGs to urgently restore healthy freshwater
ecosystems.
Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia:
said "This initiative is in line with the priorities of the National
Development Plan 2022-2026, which will allow the country to strengthen
Territorial Planning around Water by protecting all water systems from a
perspective of water as a common resource and fundamental right. This implies
the participation of communities to resolve socio-environmental conflicts,
respecting cultural diversity and guaranteeing the conservation of
biodiversity".
The Freshwater Challenge is a country-driven initiative with an inclusive,
collaborative approach to implementation, where governments and their partners
will co-create freshwater solutions with indigenous people, local communities,
and other stakeholders.'
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-river-restoration-malaria-kenya-teen-pregnancy-new-zealand/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
