Hungary hosting water summit amid global tensions

(Vatican Radio) Hungary is hosting the United Nations “Budapest Water Summit” at a time of growing global tensions over water. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (pictured) warned world leaders to take water security more seriously.

He spoke to some 1,200 delegates from more than 100 U.N. member states and organizations who gather in Hungary's capital to discuss water management and sanitation around the world at a time of growing concerns over climate change.

Though critics remain sceptical about global warming, Ban asked participants to take the issue more seriously.

“The latest report of the international panel on climate change released on September 27 confirms the imminent dangers of climate change,” he explained. “That's why I am going to convene a summit meeting dedicated to climate change in September next year. And I sincere hope that leaders next year will demonstrate their political leadership and also set a legal climate agreement by 2015.”

He said it was significant that Hungary hosts the current Budapest Water Summit on the banks of the Danube river, which only recently caused the region's worst flooding in recent history.

Hungary's president János Áder warned of more flooding as research in his words shows that “the planet is only 37 years away from the moment that its northern icecap may disappear.”

U.N. Secretary General Ban urged delegates to respect water as a crucial part of creation. He made those remarks after interrupting his prepared speech to drink himself as he was thirsty following a long flight from New York.

“Let me appreciate water,” he said before taking a sip, with delegates laughing.

“Water is life. The Creator of this world is magnificent, very creative. We have to be very humble in front of this nature.
The main purpose of this meeting today hosted by [Hungarian President] Ader is to realize this principle and God's willing,” he added.

The U.N. leader said it was painful that a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation was among the main reasons why millions of children are dying around the world.

At the October 8-11 conference delegates try to find ways to guarantee more clean water for an increasing world population while at the same time tackling climate change and other perceived threats to the planet.

In Ban Ki-moon’s words water security should be a “source of unity, not of conflict.”

Listen to Stefan Bos' report: