Yahoo TV

STORY: "We are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating," said Guterres during U.N.’s first conference on water security in almost half a century.

Ensuring access to clean drinking water and sanitation is part of the 17-point to-do list the U.N. has set for sustainable development, alongside ending hunger and poverty, achieving gender equality, and taking action on climate change.

“This conference must represent a quantum leap in the capacity of Member States and the international community to recognize and act upon the vital importance of water to our world’s sustainability and as a tool to foster peace and international co-operation,” he added.