DAEGU, South Korea — The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, UNESCO, the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) called for action by the global community to manage the growing, urgent degradation and depletion of limited groundwater resources, according to a press release.
The collaboration proposed a set of principles, “The 2030 Vision and Global Framework for Action,” governments can use for better groundwater management to ensure sustainable use of groundwater, stated the release.
The 2030 Vision and Global Framework for Action, reported the release, supplies the framework and guiding principles for coordinated action among organizations and governments.
The set of principles, a product of four years of consultations with stakeholders from over 100 counties, highlights legal and institutional frameworks, information and incentive structures, plans and policies for effective groundwater management, continued the release.
"Sustainable management of groundwater is key to maintaining ecosystems and adapting to climate change," said Naoko Ishii, CEO and chairperson for GEF. "We can no longer take this invisible but vital source for granted; urgent action is needed to ensure its long-term availability. We look forward to joining hands with partner agencies and countries to ensure water for drinking, food, cities, energy and industrial uses is available for generations to come."
Read the entire release here.
