The United Nation’s secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, has called for a wise and judicious use of water, as part of his message, commemorating World Water Day.

The UN boss described water as the most precious natural resource, emphasizing that more than ever the world need to work together to use the resource wisely. ‘‘While the world’s growing population is consuming more fresh water, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme,’’ Ban said, adding that managing it carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital.

Ban Ki-Moon opined that much of the planet’s water, above or below ground, is shared, and that four per cent of the world’s people live in one of the 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources, the UN boss observed, but, he added, while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between states and communities, precedence suggests that the opposite is actually what happens. ‘‘Cooperation, not conflict,’’ he stated, ‘‘is the most common response by people facing competing demands.’’

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon went on to say that under the theme ‘Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities’, this year’s World Water Day highlights how transboundary water resources can act as a unifying force. He pointed out that world wide there are at least 300 international water agreements, often among parties that are otherwise at odds. These agreements, he said, demonstrate the potential of shared water resources to foster trust and promote peace. ‘‘Political will, a flexible policy framework, strong institutions and an inclusive approach, the UN boss believes, will help the people of the world to build on this foundation for the benefit of all.

And he concluded: ‘‘I urge government, civil society, the private sector and all stakeholders to recognize that our collective future depends on how we manage our precious and finite water resources.’’