Introduction
SOT: “Water is humanity’s lifeblood, from the food we eat to the ecosystems and biodiversity that enrich our world. But water is in deep trouble.”
The big crisis that nobody is talking about. Plus – A special look at the place King Charles the Third will soon be crowned. 1/2
Those stories and more today on… Notice News Daily.
U.N. Water Conference Outlines Major Crisis
Happy Monday, everybody. It’s Angie here at Notice News in D.C. Our top story today:
Last week, the United Nations held its 2023 Water Conference — the first such event in nearly half a century.
For three days, diplomats gathered at U.N. headquarters to address a universal human need: access to clean water.
SOT: “We are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating. We have broken the water cycle, destroyed ecosystems, and contaminated groundwater.”
The U.N. says overconsumption and global warming are threatening water security, leaving many regions throughout the world without access to clean water and basic sanitation.
SOT: “Water scarcity is a daily reality. 4.3 billion struggling for at least one month per year and around half the world’s population experience extreme water scarcity for at least some part of the year.”
The last time the U.N. put together a water conference like this was 1977, and several of the same issues since then remain unsolved. The U.N. has identified three key water problems: too much water, like storms and floods, too little water, like droughts and depleted groundwater, and water that’s too dirty.
Among the U.N.’s proposed solutions are modernized water management resources, improved sustainability practices, and more commitments to addressing climate change.
Our country says it will invest $49 billion into water and sanitation needs at home and abroad, helping create jobs, prevent conflicts, and address natural disasters.
But some critics worry this conference doesn’t go far enough.
While the water conference did not produce a binding international agreement like the 2015 Paris Climate meetings, the U.N. hopes to create political momentum through voluntary commitments to solve the water crisis.
Headlines
Here’s what else is making news right now…
The Manhattan District Attorney investigating Donald Trump says the President created a quote “false expectation of arrest.” It’s unclear if or when a grand jury might charge Trump for crimes relating to a 2016 hush-money plot.
A 3-year-old zebra named Sero escaped from a zoo in Seoul, South Korea last week and ran the streets for hours. Zookeepers said the zebra was lonely after losing both of its parents, but it was caught and is safe now.
And – this 13-year-old found a treasure washed up on a Sydney beach worth over 13,000 dollars: a vintage Cartier watch. He found it using a metal detector.
U.K. Preparing to Crown a New King
In May, the United Kingdom will officially crown King Charles the third at his coronation, the first in over 70 years.
After her death in September of last year, Queen Elizabeth’s son Charles became the new King of England, but has yet to be coronated.
A coronation is a ceremony where a monarch is given the royal regalia, essentially a crown and scepter.
The UK’s coronation ceremony has taken place in London’s Westminster Abbey since 1066 with the coronation of William the Conqueror.
This spring, Westminster Abbey will open a portion of the space that is normally blocked off to visitors.
SOT: “It’s such a rare opportunity. Nobody apart from the clergy go up to this space so for visitors to come here and be able to walk on the pavement and get up close and look at the designs and all the different materials that make up this incredible piece of art. it’s going to be just a once in a lifetime experience.”
Visitors will have the opportunity to walk the actual path Charles will walk in his coronation called the ‘Cosmati Pavement’.
The mosaic floor is made of marble, stone, and glass, and has been carefully restored and preserved for Charles’s coronation.
SOT:”It was in such a deteriorated state that it couldn’t be used so it was always protected with carpet. So for the first time in kind of known history this pavement will be on view and used for a coronation so we get to see all the beautiful designs and all the colorful stones that make up this amazing work of art.”
Because it is so delicate, visitors will have to walk across it barefoot.
Charles’s coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6th and visitors will be able to walk the Cosmati Pavement, starting May 15th, through the summer.
Conclusion
That’s it for today – but let’s see how closely you were paying attention. Go take the Notice News quiz on our website noticenews.com.
Jonathan will be back tomorrow with more from us, Notice News.