攜手合作 探索人與水可持續(xù)的未來

聯(lián)合國教科文組織 Jayakumar Ramasamy博士

在地球上，所有生命都要依賴水。作為一種寶貴的自然資源，水不僅是生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的基本要素，而且也是人類社會賴以生存和發(fā)展所不可或缺的。在全球總的水儲量中，我們?nèi)祟惪捎玫牡徽己苄〉牟糠郑?.5%）在如此低的比例之下，淡水資源意義重大，它要滿足加速增長的全球人口、工業(yè)化和城市化發(fā)展等的需求。它也日益成為現(xiàn)代社會賴以維系的生命線。不幸的是，諸如氣候變化、水污染等挑戰(zhàn)正在威脅著地球生命的存活；具諷刺意味的是，這些挑戰(zhàn)恰恰是由人類活動所創(chuàng)造出來的。于是，我們所面對的社會圖景就是，人類在某種程度上正在使其自身的生存和發(fā)展的可持續(xù)性處于危險之中。

作為世界上最大的發(fā)展中國家之一，中國在過去的幾十年中經(jīng)濟成就斐然。我們在慶幸經(jīng)濟取得成功的同時，也在承受環(huán)境的代價，特別是在節(jié)水和保護等方面壓力巨大。中國的人均水資源量只有2300立方米——這只是世界平均水平的四分之一。令人憂慮的是，水污染和氣候變化還在進一步壓縮這種稀缺資源的可獲得性。面對如此嚴峻的供水形勢，中國迫切需要改善和提高水的利用效率，持續(xù)減少污水排放量，尋找恰當?shù)膽?yīng)對氣候變化的水資源供求戰(zhàn)略。節(jié)約和保護水資源，是中國可持續(xù)發(fā)展的一個重要方面。

著力于轉(zhuǎn)變這一社會圖景，我們很高興地注意到中國政府作出的堅定承諾。據(jù)我們所知，政府已經(jīng)投入巨資，為全國人民特別是偏僻鄉(xiāng)村地區(qū)的、生活貧困的人們，提供和守護安全的飲用水。著眼于提高水效率的科技研究，被列為國家級研究所和大學(xué)的優(yōu)先科研項目。群眾運動蓬勃發(fā)展，提高了公眾對于人和水之間緊密聯(lián)系的認識，水務(wù)市場化道路在摸索中，例如某些地區(qū)和省份間的水權(quán)交易正在試點。

作為聯(lián)合國的一個專業(yè)性的教育和水科學(xué)推廣的技術(shù)部門，聯(lián)合國教科文組織享有同中國政府展開全方位合作的便利條件。特別讓我們感到自豪的是，聯(lián)合國教科文組織和中國教育部、香格里拉學(xué)會等，在長江流域共同發(fā)起了水教育項目。這個項目的目標人群是年輕人，他們是未來的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。在節(jié)約和保護水方面，如果不能將其正確地傳授給下一代，我們已有的知識、努力和經(jīng)驗將大打折扣。更為重要的是，我們有責(zé)任去動員，并不斷加強年輕人的主人翁感，讓他們認識到人與水應(yīng)和諧相處而不要制造麻煩。

在過去幾年中，聯(lián)合國教科文組織全力參與“長江水學(xué)?！钡墓ぷ鳎⑼ㄟ^諸如聯(lián)合國“可持續(xù)發(fā)展教育十年”及“生命之水十年”等平臺多方位地推介項目，提高其知名度和影響力。項目各方的共同努力及香格里拉學(xué)會這一團隊的專業(yè)精神、無私奉獻和辛苦工作，是水教育項目能夠取得巨大成功的根本。沒有這些，我們就不會在這里相聚。在表示祝賀的同時，我們將再次為項目的成功全力投入。請相信，聯(lián)合國教科文組織會繼續(xù)與你們站在一起，為項目的開展提供所有必要的支持。我們非常愿意與你們繼續(xù)合作，為人與水可持續(xù)的未來共同探索。

自然科學(xué)處 聯(lián)合國教科文組織 北京辦公室

Message to the Shangri-la Institute

All lives on earth depend on water.As a precious kind of natural resources, water is not only the essence of ecosystem, but also indispensible for the survival and development of human society.Out of the world’s total water stock, freshwater accessible to humans beings counts for only a small part (0.5%).With such a ratio,freshwater resources bear the vital responsibilities to feed a world of accelerated population growth, industrialization and urbanization development.Increasingly, it has been the lifeline supporting sustained modern prosperity.Unfortunately, survival of the lifeline is being threatened by challenges such as climate change and water pollution,the creation of which has been ironically attributed to the activities of human beings.This has given a picture where humans, in certain extent, are jeopardizing sustainability of survival and development of their own.

China, as one of the largest developing countries in the world, has reached enormous economic success in the past decades.At the same time of celebrating the economic success, environmental costs, especially those in regards to water saving and protection, have emerged as well in the same course.Per capita water resources in China is 2,300 cubic meters--only a forth of the world’s average level.Moreover, water pollution and climate change are bringing a trend of reduction for the limited availability.With a tight water budget, it is urgent for China to improve water use efficiencies, continue to reduce the amount of water pollution, while explore sound adaptation strategies of water resources to climate change.Saving and protection of water resources has become necessary for sustainable development in China.

To change the picture, we are glad to notice firm commitment of the Chinese government.It is to our knowledge that huge amount of government fund has been invested to provide and safeguard safe drinking water for all, and particularly those in the remote poor rural areas.Researches on science and technology for improved water efficiency have taken a prioritized position in national research institutes and universities.Public campaigns have been launched in hopes of improving awareness of citizens on the close link between man and water, and market approach has been piloted between regions and provinces on the transaction of water rights.

As a UN technical agency with specialized expertise on education and water sciences, UNESCO is privileged to be with the Chinese government for its entire efforts.Plus,what makes us particularly proud is that, UNESCO, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Shangri-la Institute and other stakeholders, has managed to develop water education programme in the Yangtze River basin.Targets of this programme are the youth who are leaders of the future.Our knowledge, efforts, and experiences for water saving and protection will be greatly undermined if the spirit is not passed to the next generations.More important, it is also our duty to call up and continuously strengthen among the youth the sense of ownership for a world where man and water live harmoniously but not in troubles.We believe it is these ideas that turn the project even more meaningful not only for the youth in Yangtze,but also for China, and perhaps the world sharing the same task of sustainable development.

Over the past years, UNESCO has dedicated itself to the programme, promoting its profile upon multi-lateral tracks such as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), and the Decade of Water for Life.Nevertheless, all such efforts will not belie the professionalism, commitment and hard works of Shangri- la Institute (with leadership of Mme.LIU Yun Hua).All these have been fundamental for marvelous success of the water education programme, without which we are not able to gather here.At this time of congratulations,we would also like to commit again our whole hearted support for the continuous success of this project.Please be assured UNESCO would remain at your side, providing all necessary supports.It would be to our best pleasure that we could continue our cooperation to explore together a sustainable future between man and water.

Natural Sciences Sector

UNESCO Office Beijing