1 July 2010: The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released a report titled “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with equality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Progress and challenges.”
On Goal 7, which seeks to “ensure environmental sustainability,” seven indicators were developed for follow-up to target 7A (Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources) and target 7B (Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss). In relation to the indicator that refers to the proportion of total water resources used, the report states that climate change and rising demand will worsen water availability problems. In the face of these challenges, it stresses that progress towards the target urgently requires effective management of water resources.
On the indicator “Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits,” the report finds that studies carried out have found that the growth of industrial fishing and aquaculture, changes in habitats and increasing pollution are placing heavy pressure on hydobiological resources, and this is exacerbated by climate change, which could lead to biodiversity loss.
The report further underlines that although the drinking water target has been met in urban areas, the sustainability of service provision needs to be ensured in light of climate change and increasing contamination. Furthermore, it recommends that the State be involved in overseeing, regulating and inspecting the provision of improved drinking water and sanitation services, underlining that climate change imposes new challenges for the provision of these services. [The Report] [ECLAC Press Release]