Mr. Speaker, according to the experts who met last week under UN auspices, nearly one billion people will be threatened with a water crisis if emergency measures are not adopted by all countries, both rich and poor.
There is no doubt that this alert needs to be taken seriously. The verdict is a direct and harsh one: by the year 2025, 970 million people could be facing a serious shortage of water. What is more, according to the same experts, up to one-third of humanity is liable to experience problems. The scientific community also acknowledges these problems, so it is vital for all governments to remain vigilant and to act as promptly as possible in order to avoid this crisis, which is becoming a constantly greater source of concern.
Why not deal with the matter immediately, instead of waiting for a full-blown crisis?