March 22 is designated as World Water Day, by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/193 of 22 December 1992. The observance aims at promoting awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being. The UN Secretary-General issued the following message on this Day.
Water is our most precious natural resource. More than ever we need to work together to use it wisely. While the worlds growing population is consuming more freshwater, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital.
Much of the planets water, above or below ground, is shared. Forty percent of the worlds people live in one of 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources. But while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between States and communities, precedent suggests that the opposite is actually what happens. Co-operation, not conflict, is the most common response by people facing competing demands. Under the theme "Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities", World Water Day this year highlights how trans-boundary water resources can act as a unifying force.-PR