Xinhua News | Tu Ruihe: we will support China to play a bigger role in global environmental governance

We will support China to play a bigger role in global environmental governance, Tu Ruihe, representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said at the 4th International Conference on the Evolution of China Urban Water Environment and Ecology opened in Guiyang.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of UNEP. For half a century, UNEP has been dedicated in scientific research and mobilize resources from across the world to meet environmental challenges. Clean Water and Sanitation is one of the sustainable development goals in UN’s 2030 Agenda.

With the growing of the world’s population and the increasing demand for water resources in industry and agriculture, we are facing with water shortage, water pollution and damage of the water ecosystem. Tu Ruihe said. Global climate change may worsen the situation. The frequency and intensity of droughts and floods continue to increase, especially in developing countries.

“To date, about 80% of the world ‘s sewage has not been treated properly and effectively.” According to him, the living areas, industrial areas and infrastructures are more vulnerable to floods due to their unreasonable layouts.

There are thousands of sewage treatment plants in the world and most of them were built in the suburbs of cities. The technique and facilities used are virtually the same, but one problem remained unsolved, which is how to reuse waste water. “Where to build the WWTP and how to lower the operation cost requires innovations in thinking, technology, operation mode and system.” Tu Ruihe added.

He was delighted to witness China's remarkable achievements in water environment governance. "I was told that years of treatment have improved the ecological environment of the Nanming River. Now it has truly become a landscape river.” Tu Ruihe, who has visited Guizhou for many times, said that Nanming DURWecosystem is very innovative. It provides new ideas and guidance for the reuse of reclaimed water.

He also pointed out that UNEP attaches great importance to cooperation with China and will support China to play a greater role in regional and global environmental governance. Meanwhile, UNEP supports the sharing of China's experience and practices. Experts are welcome to share with the international community, especially developing countries China's successful experience in improving water environment and promoting green development, so as to contribute to the protection of the global environment.

Link:http://gz.news.cn/2022-07/12/c_1128824079.htm