On 9th November, the President of the World Water Council, Benedito Braga met Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.
Minister Royal and President Braga discussed the positioning of water in the global climate debate.
“We wish to catalyze long-term action for water at the Climate Summit.” – Braga said. “Water is missing from the debate, and we need to bridge this political gap to encourage an agenda that can meet the aspirations of sustainable development in a warmer world struggling to achieve water security for all.”
Minister Royal welcomed the proposals of President Braga and seized the opportunity to reinforce her statement from the World Water Week in Stockholm emphasizing that “water (resources) […] are the most affected by global warming and at the same time absolutely crucial for development”.
“The CoP21 should provide entry points for addressing water, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to actively contribute to this historical Summit”- Braga declared.
The meeting with the French government follows a recent meeting with President Pena Nieto of Mexico, both of which demonstrate an increasing recognition of the importance of water in the global debate around climate.