CPAFFC Working Group Attends 15th African International Water Congress

The impact of global warming and environmental change on the water resources available to humanity， and the threats facing future generations， was the major focus of the 15th African International Water Congress and Exhibition held in Kampala， Uganda， from March 15 to 18， 2010.

At the opening ceremony， Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni spoke about the current situation of African water resources. Other speakers were: Maria Matagamba， Ugandan Minister for Water and Environment， Buyelwa Sonjica， South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs， Kenyan biologist Wangari Maathai， Anna Tibaijuka， Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program， and David Garman， President of the International Water Resources Association. More than 1，000 government officials， scholars， representatives of the NGOs from 64 countries in the world had discussions on climate change， energy use and the challenges facing water management， and provision of better water sanitation facilities and services. The event was attended by a three-member working group from China led by Xie Yuan， Director General of the Department of the American and Oceanian Affairs of the CPAFFC， at the invitation of the African Water Association.

The theme of the congress related to energy and climatic changes， and the challenges facing water and sanitation service provision in Africa.

Focusing on rational use of water resources and better sanitation， the congress staged a water resources exhibition， a meeting of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and various panel discussions， and invited government officials in charge of water affairs and experts from South Africa， the United States， Kenya and Senegal to introduce successful experiences in their respective countries. The participants held that， in the context of growing globalization， the demand for water resources is increasing. Thus， the issues of water management and good sanitation caused by climate change are becoming most important. Exploitation and use of water resources should follow the concept of protection of the ecological environment and cooperation among countries. They called on all governments， civil societies and the private sector in the world to innovate their thinking and working style， reduce deforestation and take joint actions to protect global water resources.

Everyone agreed that water resources and sanitation are vital issues for human subsistence and development with a direct bearing on the economy， daily life， ecological environment and public health. Currently， global warming and high urbanization affect the whole process of water circulation and lower the water coverage， thus causing environmental deterioration and food crisis. Faced with the challenges brought about by climatic changes， countries should reach an effective consensus and agreement on how to further prevent global climate changes and the adverse impact so as to ensure the safety of water resources in future.

The participants attached great importance to international cooperation in water resources. In view of the forest desertification in some areas and effects on the ecological system caused by global climatic changes， they called for more rational use of global resources， and urged countries to strive to resolve current problems through energetic international cooperation.