LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 22, 2015, as World Water Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, World Water Day is held on March 22nd each year to focus the
world's attention to the importance of freshwater and the sustainable
management of freshwater resources; and
WHEREAS, Food security exists when all people, at all times, have
physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food
that meets their dietary requirements for an active and healthy life;
and
WHEREAS, People who have better access to water tend to have better
levels of nourishment; water scarcity is a major cause of famine and
malnutrition, especially in parts of the world where people rely on
local agriculture for food and income; and
WHEREAS, More than seven billion people feed on the planet, with
another two billion expected by 2050, meaning that 70 percent more food
will be needed, up to 100 percent more food in many developing countries
around the world; and
WHEREAS, Water scarcity affects every continent and more than 40
percent of people on the planet; by 2025, approximately 1.8 billion
people will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity,
limiting the ability of farmers to produce enough food to eat or earn a
living; and
WHEREAS, Climate change is expected to reduce the amount of rainwater
available for agriculture, including for feed and fodder for livestock,
as well as forests and aquaculture; severe reductions in river runoff
and aquifer recharge are expected in the Mediterranean Basin and the
semi-arid areas of the Americas, Australia and Southern Africa, affect-
ing water availability and quality in regions that currently experience
water scarcity; and
WHEREAS, The dangers of climate change on water and food security can
be mitigated by improved water harvesting and retention, supplementary
irrigation for rain-fed crops, highly efficient irrigation systems and
other best practices; and
WHEREAS, Continued population and economic growth is leading to
increased water demand to cities and industries, which grow at rates
significantly faster than those of agriculture; increased competition by
cities and industries often translates into a loss of water access for
poor and vulnerable groups in developing countries around the world; and
WHEREAS, Future production of food and agricultural products will be
impossible without greater efforts of producing more food with less
water; and
WHEREAS, Maximizing the yield per unit of land must give way to the
yield per unit of water used; and
WHEREAS, Water pollution is a primary cause of reduced water avail-
ability which impacts the environment and human health; water pollution
is often caused by inappropriate industrial and agricultural practices
in addition to urban waste production; and
WHEREAS, Modern, integrated approaches to food production, such as
conservation agriculture, have the potential to substantially reduce
water pollution; and
WHEREAS, Warburg Realty, led by its President Frederick Peters, is
hosting a World Water Day event on March 22, 2015; the event features

store visitors carrying two water-filled Jerry Cans to represent the
hardship faced by women and children in the developing world; and
WHEREAS, The Jerry Cans used in the event are the same types used by
women and children in Africa to carry clean water back to their communi-
ties; and
WHEREAS, Warburg Realty is hosting the event to raise awareness among
the local community and their customers about the global clean water
crisis; it is carrying on the tradition of Rubicon Property which it
acquired in January of 2014; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious human health and environmental issue, and more must be done
to increase activity at the local, state, national and international
levels to promote water conservation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 22, 2015, as
World Water Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to recognize the
contributions of Warburg Realty, led by President Frederick Peters, for
its efforts in raising awareness about the global clean water crisis;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York, and Frederick Peters, President, Warburg Realty.