第四屆水資源論壇16日在墨西哥市展開，有來自120國共超過11000人的與會人士。墨西哥總統福克斯（Vicente Fox）在開幕典禮中表示：「為了保障全人類現有及未來的水資源供應，緊急的行動必須展開」。水資源的使用在20世紀成長了六倍，為人口成長率的兩倍，且有11億的人目前仍缺乏適當的飲用水供應。
代表們聚集在墨西哥市班納美克斯會議中心，就淡水資源管理的公共政策進行討論。這個每三年舉辦一次的水資源論壇共為期七天，藉由論壇、小組討論和網路交流，以加強討論世界各國的水資源問題議題。
墨西哥總統福克斯表示，墨西哥與世界上其他國家一樣，共同為恢復世界水資源平衡而努力，他說：「我們知道並沒有所謂獨特的解決方式能一體適用國際上的水資源問題。目前最好的解決之道是從在地的尺度著手」。他以此強調論壇的主題──「在地行動因應全球挑戰」。
在包羅萬象的主題中，論壇參與者將探討五個主要主題架構，包括：「成長與發展所需之水」、「執行整合式水資源管理」、「全人類的水資源供應與衛生設備」、「為食品衛生與環境的水資源管理」和「風險管理」。
此外，3月22日論壇閉幕式中，「京都世界水資源獎」US$45,000將首次頒給在地社區團體或個人，表彰他們實行社區行動凸顯水資源相關需求的重要性。
更多有關水資源論壇的訊息，可參考網址︰http://worldwatercouncil.org/
Urgent actions are needed to guarantee the present and future supply of water for all humanity, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Thursday, welcoming some 11,000 participants from 120 nations to the 4th World Water Forum. Water usage increased six-fold during the 20th century, twice the rate of population growth, and 1.1 billion people still do not have access to an adequate supply of drinking water.
Delegates gathered at the Banamex Convention Center to discuss and adopt public policies for the management of fresh water. Held once every three years, the Forum is an initiative of the World Water Council, which aims to raise awareness of water issues worldwide through seven days of forums, panels, and networking.
Mexicans share with all the nations of the world the challenge of restoring the worldwide water balance, President Fox said. "We know that unique solutions do not exist that can be applied indiscriminately to the international problem of the water. Today the great solutions take place in the local scope," he said, emphasizing the conference theme, Local Actions for a Global Challenge.
Within that overarching theme, Forum participants will address the issues through five framework themes - water for growth and development, implementing integrated water resources management, water supply and sanitation for all, water management for food and the environment, and risk management.
At the closing ceremony of the Forum on March 22, the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize of US$45,000 will be awarded for the first time to an individual or organization that has carried out activities on the community level to address critical needs related to water.
Find out more at the World Water Council: http://worldwatercouncil.org/
