At an international conference on water and disasters held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said, "The number of water-related disasters has more than doubled in the past 10 years due to climate change and other factors, and we need to act now," and called for the international community to work together to take countermeasures.
The United Nations Special Conference on Water and Disasters, held once every two years at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 2, where national disaster prevention officials and experts discuss the current situation of flood damage and disaster prevention measures.
In a video speech at the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, "Due to the effects of rapid urbanization and climate change, water-related disasters have more than doubled in the past 10 years, and countries have been hit hard.
After this, His Majesty the Emperor gave a keynote speech of about 20 minutes using a pre-recorded video, and after expressing condolences to the victims of natural disasters that occurred around the world, he gave a lecture on the water supply network and water transportation that were developed in the Edo period.
In addition, Mayor Onishi of Kumamoto City, where the Asia-Pacific Water Summit was held last year, attended the meeting, and introduced disaster prevention efforts to protect citizens from flood damage while preserving Kumamoto's abundant groundwater, and emphasized that "the public and private sectors are working together to establish a 'sound water cycle' in order to pass on the abundant groundwater to the next generation."
Mayor of Kumamoto City: "Evaluation of Kumamoto's Initiatives: Conveying to the Local Community"
After the meeting, Mayor Onishi of Kumamoto City told reporters, "Listening to the various situations in each country, I understood once again how much we must focus on water issues for the future as climate change progresses. I was talking.
"I believe that the announcement at the United Nations has attracted even more attention to Kumamoto from many people around the world, and I would like to convey to the local people that Kumamoto's efforts are highly valued, and I would like to take home my experience at the conference so that everyone can continue their efforts in the region with confidence."