Speaking from the UN rostrum, Kenekeyev informed the world community about threats of melting of glaciers, as well as about the policy implemented by the government in the areas of integrated water resources management and ensuring the population’s access to water and sanitation.

He stressed that the limited water resources will sooner or later lead to an understanding that water is an economic resource, therefore, countries already need to prioritize and suggested starting to develop economic mechanisms for mutually beneficial cooperation in the water and energy sector, including the establishment of separate basin commissions for each river.

The Vice Prime Minister also drew the attention of those present that the implementation of the projects on the construction of hydroelectric power stations in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will fully meet the needs of the Central Asian countries in hydropower and thereby create favorable conditions for the sustainable development of the entire region.

It should be noted that the high-level event on the launch of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” for 2018-2028 was held at the UN headquarters on March 22.

As part of the international water day, the UN member states reaffirmed their commitment to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and, in particular, the sixth goal of the SDG of universal access to water and sanitation.

The work of the event was attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He presented an action plan for the coming decade, focused on the joint efforts of the UN member countries in achieving universal access to water and sanitation, as well as integrated water resources management.

In his speech, the Secretary General noted that today 40% of the world’s population suffer from water shortage; 80% of sewage is discharged into the environment in unclean form and more than 90% of disasters are associated with water. At the same time, the Secretary-General stressed that more than 2 billion people still do not have access to safe water, and more than 4.5 billion people do not have adequate sanitation, so the world community must take the necessary measures within the next decade.

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