Assembly Resolution No. 201

BY: M. of A. Rosenthal L

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
March 22, 2017, 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, affecting 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
availability 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, 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, 2017, as
World Water Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.