Water must not become a reason for war

Mr Benn, speaking at Water 2009 regulation, recession sustainability and competition: adapting successfully to the challenges ahead, laid out his hopes for the UN’s climate change talks in Denmark.

The secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, gave the keynote address at the event organised by Marketforce and IEA.

He said: “We need to make sure water does not become a cause for war, that’s why we’re trying so hard for Copenhagen.

“The decisions we take and the leadership we show as humankind will show in the future … and the part you’re playing will be fundamental to that.”

Mr Benn also called for everyone to lower their water use by helping to cut it from the current 150 litres per person to 130 litres each by 2030.

Luke Walsh