The historical symbiotic relationship between money, water and environment is now out of balance, the president of the International Desalination Association (IDA) told a conference in Zurich on 27 April 2009.
Opening the Blue, Green & Gold Conference organised by IDA and Global Water Intelligence, Henthorne referred to the change in world economic circumstances since the previous IDA finance conference in London in 2008.
“Without sufficient money for equity and lending for development,” said Henthorne, “water projects are severely limited. And those going for them will be cutting every available corner to reduce costs.”
Some of the corners that would be cut, would be at the expense of the environment, she said.
Around 320 water, energy, desalination and finance delegates are attending the conference which will be addressed later by Al Gore, former US vice-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner.