To commemorate World Water Day on March 22, the Mexican government and the other eleven members of the High-Level Panel on Water issued an alert regarding the critical water situation worldwide due to the combined effects of growing and changing populations, new patterns of intensive water use, increasing rainfall variability and pollution.  

In a joint communiqué signed by the twelve leaders of the High Level Panel on Water, they stress that floods and droughts are already imposing huge social and economic costs around the world, which could increase as a result of climate change. The Panel warns that if the world continues on its current path, it may face a 40% shortfall in water availability by 2030, affecting at least 1.8 billion people.

Given this scenario, the communiqué stresses the importance of taking national action and engaging in regional and global cooperation to improve integrated and sustainable water management.

President Enrique Peña Nieto, as Panel Co-Chair, has invited its members to meet with other leaders and participants of the 5th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction on May 25 In Cancun to promote new initiatives on water and disaster risk reduction and to agree on shared lessons and ways forward to prevent the loss of life and property due to water-related disasters.

On World Water Day 2017, the High-Level Panel on Water recognize and salute the many people and organizations—government, private sector, civil society and academic—who are working hard and innovating to make sure that people have access to clean water and sanitation, and ensuring that fresh water is sustainably managed.

The High Level Panel on Water was established in January 2016 by the United Nations and the World Bank at Mexico’s initiative during the World Economic Forum in Davos to promote the comprehensive, inclusive and collaborative management of water resources and to improve water and sanitation services. The panel is comprised of the Heads of State and Government of 11 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Hungary, Jordan, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Senegal, South Africa and Tajikistan, and a special adviser from South Korea.