Dylan Lang
U.S. Adviser to the Third Committee
New York, New York
October 20, 2022
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. Special Rapporteur, for your work on this important issue. Access to safe and affordable drinking water and safely managed sanitation services is crucial for human life and the provision of key services including health care.
Last year, the United States government made its single largest investment ever in domestic water and wastewater infrastructure, allocating $55 billion in funding for the restoration and improvement of water and wastewater systems. We are proud this funding will help increase access to safe drinking water for vulnerable and underserved communities.
Internationally, under the new five-year U.S. Global Water Strategy, we have committed to connecting 22 million people with access to water and 22 million people with access to sanitation — half of these recipients will receive access for the first time.
The impacts of climate change continue to be felt through more intense floods, longer droughts, and stronger storms. But responding to these water challenges can be a pathway to community resilience, prosperity, and improved environmental sustainability.
This is a challenge that requires all of us to work together. We should seek to leverage the power of partnerships and to learn from each other’s experiences. No country is immune from water challenges, but together, we can make progress on this fundamental issue.
###
