Hungarian President in UN: Sustainability requires ‘more responsible’ water management

Reaching a turning point in efforts for sustainability will require a “more responsible approach” towards water supplies, President János Áder told a United Nations summit on sustainable development goals in New York late on Wednesday.

In his address, Áder said that Hungary was “involved in the drama of much water-little water-polluted water”.

Hungary has recently been affected by extreme high water levels along its rivers, Ader said and noted plans to build 12 flood reservoirs along the River Tisza to protect residential areas close to the river. He also mentioned that 10 percent of the country’s territory could become deserts in future.

“To avoid a greater trouble we will have to raise more money in the next decade than we spent during the past 50 years,” he insisted.

On the other hand, Áder said that 90 percent of Hungary’s sewage was now being treated, as opposed to 20 percent 20 years ago.

“We are proud to report that rivers leaving Hungary are cleaner than when they enter the country,” he said.

“May we live anywhere in the world, we must not have goals other than preventing a water crisis,” Áder said.

Source: MTI