Climate justice academic to outline water plight at UN conference
Professor Tahseen Jafry will urge governments to take a leading role in ensuring there is water for all at the United Nations Water Conference today.
Professor Jafry, Director of the University’s Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice, will be part of a panel event at the conference, entitled: Water for Climate Mental Health Resilience - Integrating inclusive water strategies in climate services.
Professor Jafry will discuss insights from her research in Malawi and Zambia, which shows there are more people without access to water today than in 1990.
She said: “There is no denying that access to clean and safe water must be a basic human right, enabling communities to live healthy lives and support wellbeing. Our research in Malawi and Zambia, however, unearthed that is far from the reality. Access to water, for example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, continues to be a challenge. Current approaches are struggling on the backdrop of climate change.
“The Horn of Africa is experiencing its longest drought in 40 years, with projection of famine to come this year. At the same time, governments have failed to provide a structure, mechanisms or approaches that guarantee water for all, resulting in a vacuum which has been filled by a number of social actors.
“I will be drawing attention to the need for governments to take a leading role by facilitating long-term investment in the sector and promoting initiatives which incorporate the right to water access.
“I consider that, in order to achieve universal access to water, a new perception of rights and responsibilities is vital for communities, donors, NGOs and the public sector as one step towards reducing the number of people without water in the future. This is a dealmaker for the Sustainable Development Goals, and for the health and prosperity of people and planet.”
The purpose of the UN Water Conference is to obtain voluntary commitments from countries and stakeholders to meet global water-related goals and targets. The virtual event, today, 2-3pm GMT, can be watched via the UN’s YouTube channel.
Following the Conference, in honour of World Water Day (March 22), Professor Jafry will take part in a Women Plus Water conversation on the climate and water crisis. Along with host Dr Inonge Milupi and fellow guest Dr Martina Angela Caretta, Professor Jafry will provide perspectives on climate justice, gender, poverty, environmental degradation, and the 2022 IPCC Assessment on Water.