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Session 8: Summary and Conclusion

CONCLUDING REMARKS

by Mr. Masaharu Yagishita
Director, Planning Division, Global Environment Department, Environment Agency of Japan

On behalf of the Environment Agency of Japan, I would like to say a few words before the concluding remarks of Ms. Lilia Casanova, Deputy Director of UNEP-IETC.

Since the industrial revolution, humankind has consumed vast quantities of fossil fuels and other resources, and has produced waste in far greater quantities than can be absorbed by natural ecosystems. The effects of population growth and urbanization have exacerbated the destruction of nature and the deterioration of living conditions, including a decline in the quality of our freshwater supply.

For a solution to such a situation, we must try to reduce stress on the environment by fostering environmentally sound life cycles and lifestyles. We must try to understand the mechanisms of nature, and conduct our activities in a way that enable us to live in harmony with the natural world.

In developing regions, the first priority must be to provide sustainable livelihoods—giving due attention to water issues--by enhancing technology transfers and development, and by strengthening the development of human resources.

To that end, United Nations organisations like UNEP have made ongoing efforts and achieved steady progress. The international community is looking to UNEP for guidance in coping with worldwide environmental problems. The Japanese government supports UNEP’s efforts.

The mandate of UNEP-IETC is to accumulate information on environmentally sound technologies and disseminate them to where demand and need for them exists, especially in developing regions.

The topics covered by this symposium on the "Promotion of Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas" provide practical information to show us the way towards realizing environmentally sound lifestyles based on alternative water resources development, and a more efficient form of water use. I am confident that this symposium gives us all a chance to promote our activities aimed towards tackling environmental problems as they relate to urban water issues.

Before I conclude my remarks, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the staff of UNEP-IETC, to the various officials who made enormous efforts to make a great success of this symposium, and to the expert participants who came here from more than 40 countries.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

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• International Year of Forests
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