‘Coping with Water Scarcity’ was the theme for World Water Day 2007, which is celebrated each year on March 22. Director-General Dr. Jacques Diouf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations called coping with water scarcity the “challenge of the 21st century”.

The bulk of the challenge lies in finding more effective ways to conserve, use and protect the world’s water resources. Global population is expected to reach 8.1 billion by 2030. To keep pace with the growing demand for food, 14 percent more freshwater will need to be withdrawn for agricultural purposes in the next 30 years.

A different UN group leads World Water Day each year. Its observance is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. source: UN Water and World Water Day

United Arab Emirates.

Also, check out articles in New America Media category: Environment / Energy