The Hamilton Spectator reports that, “Representatives of 26 United Nations agencies that compose UN Water are taking part in a three-day conference (February 2-4) at McMaster Innovation Park, which is home to the Institute for Water, Environment and Health, part of United Nations University.”
“The director of the institute, Zafar Adeel, is the new chair of UN Water, which was formed in 2003. …Adeel said his main responsibility as chair is to rally members around a common agenda in preparation for the G8 and G20 meetings in Canada later this year (June 25-27) and the World Water Development Report to be launched March 2012.”
“This is the first time its members have met in Canada. Delegates from such bodies as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank Group, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and UNESCO are coming from Nairobi, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Geneva, Rome, Paris, New York and other locations. ‘UN Water could become more of a driving force in the UN system to push the water agenda in relation to different political problems,’ said Johan Kuylenstierna, chief technical adviser to the chair of UN Water, who is in Hamilton in advance of the conference.”
The Hamilton Spectator article is at http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/715626.