Whereas the abuse, over extraction and displacement of water to promote a global economy based on unlimited growth and corporate power is a major cause of climate change;
Whereas greenhouse gas emission-fueled climate change is destroying glaciers and freshwater systems, profoundly and negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of billions of the world’s most vulnerable people;
Whereas to deal with the growing water shortage, there is now a move to have water declared a market commodity to be put up for sale to the highest bidder, thereby denying the basic human right to water to
billions;
We, Movements for Water Justice from around the World, united in solidarity for Climate Justice, therefore demand that the global freshwater crisis be integrated into the United Nations negotiations process as a clear cause of climate change and an obvious area for climate mitigation.
The world’s freshwater heritage must be declared to be a commons, a public trust and a human right that belongs to the earth, all species and the future. Water must never be privatized for personal profit and no one must ever be denied water for life because of inability to pay.
Water has the right to flow to the sea and must be conserved, protected from pollution and restored in watersheds where it will mitigate against the worst effects of climate change while the world converts to an energy sustainable future.
We further commit to continue to organize, mobilize and act to ensure a future respecting water justice and climate justice.
