A Pakistani child drinks water from a hand-pump Leaders attending an upcoming UN development conference should commit to achieving universal access to clean drinking water by 2030, environmental groups said Friday. International leaders are set to meet in Brazil next June for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable development and seven leading environmental groups said water-access must be high on the agenda.
In a "Stockholm Statement" issued in the Swedish capital, the activists called on world leaders to commit to achieving "universal provisioning of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and modern energy services by the year 2030".
The coalition, which includes both international and Swedish groups, urged a 20 percent decrease in worldwide water pollution, more efficient water use in the agriculture and energy sectors, and increased reuse of water resources.
"The Rio+20 Summit is a great opportunity to review how water, energy and food are perceived and managed by the human society," UN-Water chief Adeel Zafar said at the close of the Stockholm conference.