UNESCO, FAO, World Bank, IAH and UNECE • organize a Regional Consultation on Groundwater Governance 19–21 Marchhttp://bit.ly/Z2sBlT
Πέμπτη 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
Τετάρτη 27 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
World Water Week
1-6 September 2013 | Stockholm, Sweden
This yearly appointment for water practitioners from around the world in 2013 will be entirely dedicated to Water Cooperation.
Visit the website
Visit the website
Welcome to Walking for Water!
Walking
for Water is an awareness and fundraising initiative. School children
aged 10-15 are sponsored by friends and family to walk 6 kilometres
while carrying 6 litres of water in a backpack.Children learn about global water issues, while raising funds to help solve them. Organise your own event! Read more »
Blog
Walking for Water 2013 bigger than ever! - February 21st, 2013 by CAmsinger
80
Schools! 21 Countries! More than 6000 kids! Registrations for Walking
for Water 2013 have really taken off! As of mid-February the campaign
has around 6000 students from over 80 schools around the world who have
decided to Take the walk! From Columbia to Pakistan,…
80
Schools! 21 Countries! More than 6000 kids! Registrations for Walking
for Water 2013 have really taken off! As of mid-February the campaign
has around 6000 students from over 80 schools around the world who have
decided to Take the walk! From Columbia to Pakistan,…
Greetings from Down Under! Maningrida Walks for Water - February 10th, 2013 by CAmsinger
Teacher
J. Gannaway shared the following about the motivation of Maningrida CEC
to join Walking for Water: “Our school is situated in an indigenous
community on the mouth of a river, near the coast in the Northern
Territory of Australia. Many people in Maningrida call…
Teacher
J. Gannaway shared the following about the motivation of Maningrida CEC
to join Walking for Water: “Our school is situated in an indigenous
community on the mouth of a river, near the coast in the Northern
Territory of Australia. Many people in Maningrida call…
¿Quieres saber sobre la campaña Walking for Water? - February 4th, 2013 by CAmsinger
¿Quieres saber sobre la campaña Walking for Water? ¡Nuestra
presentación está disponible en español! Haz clic en el siguiente
enlace: The introduction presentation of the Walking for Water Campaign
is now available in Spanish.
Our partners
Click on the icons to go to the Partner webpages
Are you part of a Rotary? Click here!Recent blogs
21 Feb — Walking for Water 2013 bigger than ever! 10 Feb — Greetings from Down Under! Maningrida Walks for Water 04 Feb — ¿Quieres saber sobre la campaña Walking for Water? 31 Jan — Welcome to Walking for Water SEK International School in Budapest!Funded projects
In 2011 Walking for Water raised 1.2 million Euro, which funded over 20 projects. Below a random project is shown.Logo builder
With the support of the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC),
we have developed this aplication to allow you customize the official
Water Cooperation 2013 logo by chosing the characteristics of its
different elements.
Chose the language, colors and patterns of each
number, the shape of the stream of water that runs through the numbers
and download your logo!
At each step, click on the "Next step" button on the top left to move forward.
Declaration of the Youth participants of the launching of the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation
Pavillon de l'eau, Paris, France, 11 February 2013
-Preamble-
1. We, the youth participating in the launching of the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation, having met in Paris, France on 11 February 2013, are working together for the protection, restoration and better management of natural resources, particularly freshwater, a vital resource which is becoming increasingly scarce and polluted every day.
2. We affirm our commitment to cooperate and to find solutions to the challenges that are threatening the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, with emphasis on unequal access to water and sanitation, its linkages with climate change and a more equitable water governance, including aspects related to gender equality.
3. We affirm to work with honesty, transparency, with and for our communities, to join forces and share capacities; to be fair between human needs and natural resources, and, to act in good faith.
4. We also affirm our commitment to cooperate and contribute to our governments’ efforts in achieving “The Future We Want”, as well as in the implementation of other water-related international agreements, the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation, the International Decade for Action: Water for Life”, the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and the 2012 Declaration of the World Youth Parliament for Water.
-Our Concerns-
5. First, we recognize that the lack of strategic infrastructure and increase of pollution by human activities, including deforestation, industrial production, unsustainable consumption and uncontrolled waste, affects the quality and quantity of freshwater. These problems have a daily impact on millions of people, and if not addressed will seriously compromise the livelihoods of future generations.
6. Second, we are concerned about the insufficient knowledge and capacities at all levels regarding the causes and consequences of global changes including climate change, natural disasters, migration of populations, ocean acidification, desertification and rapid depletion of potable water resources.
7. Third, we acknowledge that enhanced cooperation, good governance and stakeholders’ participation at local, national, international and basin levels are essential for fair, and inclusive water distribution based on the local circumstances. We also highlight the role of parliaments in generating inclusive participation in cooperation with governments, civil society actors, water and sanitation experts, indigenous people, women, youth, and children, because we can altogether achieve great things with relatively small efforts.
8. Fourth, creating a more cooperative environment for the management of transboundary waters is still a huge concern for many countries. The challenge remains to put institutional development and cooperative thinking into practice through the development and implementation of sustainable projects that bring shared benefits to all partners, including future generations.
- Guidelines-
9. Solutions to water challenges must consider the particular needs and conditions within each water basin. To overcome water challenges, solidarity and cooperation must be stimulated among different actors, including leaders and youth to achieve a lasting impact. In a world facing food and water scarcity we believe that it has become crucial to reuse water and recover the nutrients for other uses such as agriculture.
Together we must endeavour to solve all the environmental problems afore mentioned;
10. We, the youth, strongly support initiatives including education and research, that foster cooperation and sustainable development in transboundary waters, all over the world.
11. We understand that to achieve universal access to water and sanitation, it is essential to promote and increase cooperation among different actors, including youth, to improve and exchange local knowledge, information, experiences, and innovation at all levels for access for all.
12. Achieving good water governance must be a guiding principle in all initiatives. We define water governance as a set of rules and actions taken to manage water resources. Consequently, good water governance is a set of actions that efficiently distributes the benefits of water resources between society, the economy and the environment. This is a central aim of sustainable development.
13. The proposed solutions must be promoted by world youth at local, regional, national and international levels in order to facilitate the installation of information. This information must address global changes in partnership with different actors at all levels for better results thanks to an efficient collaboration.
14. The government and civil society actors must create adequate mechanisms to increase stakeholders’ participation at all levels of society, including youth, in order to promote ownership of the initiatives at the local level.
15. In following the positions expressed above, as representatives of world youth, we accept the responsibility to take concrete actions according to the need and reality of our specific water resources, for water being accessible to everyone.
-Preamble-
1. We, the youth participating in the launching of the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation, having met in Paris, France on 11 February 2013, are working together for the protection, restoration and better management of natural resources, particularly freshwater, a vital resource which is becoming increasingly scarce and polluted every day.
2. We affirm our commitment to cooperate and to find solutions to the challenges that are threatening the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, with emphasis on unequal access to water and sanitation, its linkages with climate change and a more equitable water governance, including aspects related to gender equality.
3. We affirm to work with honesty, transparency, with and for our communities, to join forces and share capacities; to be fair between human needs and natural resources, and, to act in good faith.
4. We also affirm our commitment to cooperate and contribute to our governments’ efforts in achieving “The Future We Want”, as well as in the implementation of other water-related international agreements, the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation, the International Decade for Action: Water for Life”, the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and the 2012 Declaration of the World Youth Parliament for Water.
-Our Concerns-
5. First, we recognize that the lack of strategic infrastructure and increase of pollution by human activities, including deforestation, industrial production, unsustainable consumption and uncontrolled waste, affects the quality and quantity of freshwater. These problems have a daily impact on millions of people, and if not addressed will seriously compromise the livelihoods of future generations.
6. Second, we are concerned about the insufficient knowledge and capacities at all levels regarding the causes and consequences of global changes including climate change, natural disasters, migration of populations, ocean acidification, desertification and rapid depletion of potable water resources.
7. Third, we acknowledge that enhanced cooperation, good governance and stakeholders’ participation at local, national, international and basin levels are essential for fair, and inclusive water distribution based on the local circumstances. We also highlight the role of parliaments in generating inclusive participation in cooperation with governments, civil society actors, water and sanitation experts, indigenous people, women, youth, and children, because we can altogether achieve great things with relatively small efforts.
8. Fourth, creating a more cooperative environment for the management of transboundary waters is still a huge concern for many countries. The challenge remains to put institutional development and cooperative thinking into practice through the development and implementation of sustainable projects that bring shared benefits to all partners, including future generations.
- Guidelines-
9. Solutions to water challenges must consider the particular needs and conditions within each water basin. To overcome water challenges, solidarity and cooperation must be stimulated among different actors, including leaders and youth to achieve a lasting impact. In a world facing food and water scarcity we believe that it has become crucial to reuse water and recover the nutrients for other uses such as agriculture.
Together we must endeavour to solve all the environmental problems afore mentioned;
10. We, the youth, strongly support initiatives including education and research, that foster cooperation and sustainable development in transboundary waters, all over the world.
11. We understand that to achieve universal access to water and sanitation, it is essential to promote and increase cooperation among different actors, including youth, to improve and exchange local knowledge, information, experiences, and innovation at all levels for access for all.
12. Achieving good water governance must be a guiding principle in all initiatives. We define water governance as a set of rules and actions taken to manage water resources. Consequently, good water governance is a set of actions that efficiently distributes the benefits of water resources between society, the economy and the environment. This is a central aim of sustainable development.
13. The proposed solutions must be promoted by world youth at local, regional, national and international levels in order to facilitate the installation of information. This information must address global changes in partnership with different actors at all levels for better results thanks to an efficient collaboration.
14. The government and civil society actors must create adequate mechanisms to increase stakeholders’ participation at all levels of society, including youth, in order to promote ownership of the initiatives at the local level.
15. In following the positions expressed above, as representatives of world youth, we accept the responsibility to take concrete actions according to the need and reality of our specific water resources, for water being accessible to everyone.
Τετάρτη 20 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
Δευτέρα 18 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
11 February 2013 UNESCO Headquarters and Pavillon de l’eau, Paris, France
Launch of the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013
By
declaring 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, the
international community recognizes the importance of the peaceful
management and use of water resources, working together towards a common
goal, in a way that is mutually beneficial.
Official kickoff event
11 February 2013
UNESCO Headquarters and Pavillon de l’eau, Paris, FranceFollow the event live below (10:00-13:00 and 14:30-18:00).
UNESCO Headquarters and Pavillon de l’eau, Paris, FranceFollow the event live below (10:00-13:00 and 14:30-18:00).
The
International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 will be launched
officially by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and Michel
Jarraud, Chair to UN-Water and Secretary-General of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 11 February 2013 with a high-level
event.
Representatives of governments, local communities,
specialized NGOs and UN organizations will join eminent specialists and
youths to discuss:
- How water cooperation can best contribute to the Global Agenda on Sustainable Development for the post-2015 era so as to effectively address the needs of all societies,
- Harnessing cooperation at all levels to address water-related challenges, including:
- Regional cooperative mechanisms
- Government action at the national level
- Action at the local level
- Cooperation at the basin level, and
- Science, capacity building and partnerships.
The
official slogan for the year will be revealed during the ceremony as
the winner of the slogan competition is announced. The slogan was
selected among 12,151 proposals sent by 5,654 people from 180 countries!
An exhibition entitled “Water at the heart of
science” will also be presented on the occasion. Prepared for the Year,
the exhibition was co-produced with the French Institut de recherche
pour le développement (IRD) and the Centre de Culture scientifique at
technique de la region Centre. Presented first at UNESCO, it will be
shown throughout 2013 in the network of French cultural establishments
around the world.
Children and Youth
Young people will play a significant part in the celebrations.
Children will take part in water-related activities
at UNESCO headquarters while youths from Japan, the Netherlands, UNESCO
Associated Schools (ASPnet) and the Paris area will hold their own
meeting at the Pavillon de l'eau
(water pavilion) managed by Eau de Paris, the institution that manages
drinking water for the city. Together they will finalize a Youth
Declaration on water cooperation, which they will present to the
participants of the high-level meeting as they join them at the
Pavillon. The Declaration will be followed by a cocktail.
The celebration will also include an exhibition and
other cultural activities organized in partnership with the Mairie de
Paris.
The United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation 2013
In
2010 the United Nations declared 2013 as the International Year of
Water Cooperation. Within UN-Water, the group of 31 UN agencies working
on the many issues related to water, UNESCO was appointed to lead the
Year in view of its multi-dimensional mandate in the sciences, culture
and education and its significant and long-standing programmes
contributing to the management of the world’s freshwater resources.
UNESCO is leading preparations in cooperation with
the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and with the
support of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(UNDESA), UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC)
and UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC).
World Water Day which will be celebrated on 22 March will also focus on the theme of water cooperation.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
What
does improved water cooperation look like? Gretchen Kalonji (UNESCO
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences) suggests several
scenarios: "It would mean convincing
the food, water and energy sectors to work together, rather than in
silos. It will take strong institutions at both the national and
international levels to satisfy competing demands and defuse tension
when it arises, such as over proposals for shale gas extraction, mass
irrigation or dam construction.” Currently, these different
constituencies are not working together, or not anywhere closely
enough. Efforts must focus on joining them up to create a more
comprehensive, integrated approach to water management. It is a missing
key to making access to freshwater a reality for all, and it is long
overdue.
The
stakes are high today. Water security is essential to sustainable
development, and vital to building inclusive, peaceful societies. Yet
billions of people remain vulnerable to water scarcity, deteriorating
water quality and such water-related disasters as floods and droughts.
Women, children and those living in poverty suffer the heaviest
burden. As highlighted in the 2012 MDG Report (LINK), women are
disproportionately affected by water scarcity. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
71% of the water collection burden falls on women and girls; this heavy
burden is also the case in other parts of the world. If women hold
less than 6% of all ministerial positions in the environment, natural
resources & energy, how about increasing women in decision-making,
in the spirit of water cooperation?
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
UNESCO contributes to the mdg of ensuring environmental sustainability thru freshwater
- © UNESCO/Vytautas Knyva
Zuvintas lake, Lithuania
Freshwater
is a priority for UNESCO. We have contributed to the relevant
Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability
across what may be called the UNESCO Water Family, including:
- the flagship International Hydrological Programme;
- the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, the world’s largest postgraduate water education facility, which has trained 15,400 water professionals from over 160 countries;
- a network of 18 water-related centres under UNESCO auspices;
- the World Water Assessment Programme hosted by UNESCO, the flagship UN-Water programme that brings together 30 UN agencies and produces the now-yearly World Water Development Reports; and
- the 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
What
does improved water cooperation look like? Gretchen Kalonji (UNESCO
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences) suggests several
scenarios: "It would mean convincing
the food, water and energy sectors to work together, rather than in
silos. It will take strong institutions at both the national and
international levels to satisfy competing demands and defuse tension
when it arises, such as over proposals for shale gas extraction, mass
irrigation or dam construction.” Currently, these different
constituencies are not working together, or not anywhere closely
enough. Efforts must focus on joining them up to create a more
comprehensive, integrated approach to water management. It is a missing
key to making access to freshwater a reality for all, and it is long
overdue.
The
stakes are high today. Water security is essential to sustainable
development, and vital to building inclusive, peaceful societies. Yet
billions of people remain vulnerable to water scarcity, deteriorating
water quality and such water-related disasters as floods and droughts.
Women, children and those living in poverty suffer the heaviest
burden. As highlighted in the 2012 MDG Report (LINK), women are
disproportionately affected by water scarcity. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
71% of the water collection burden falls on women and girls; this heavy
burden is also the case in other parts of the world. If women hold
less than 6% of all ministerial positions in the environment, natural
resources & energy, how about increasing women in decision-making,
in the spirit of water cooperation?
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
UNESCO contributes to the mdg of ensuring environmental sustainability thru freshwater
- © UNESCO/Vytautas Knyva
Zuvintas lake, Lithuania
Freshwater
is a priority for UNESCO. We have contributed to the relevant
Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability
across what may be called the UNESCO Water Family, including:
- the flagship International Hydrological Programme;
- the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, the world’s largest postgraduate water education facility, which has trained 15,400 water professionals from over 160 countries;
- a network of 18 water-related centres under UNESCO auspices;
- the World Water Assessment Programme hosted by UNESCO, the flagship UN-Water programme that brings together 30 UN agencies and produces the now-yearly World Water Development Reports; and
- the 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
What
does improved water cooperation look like? Gretchen Kalonji (UNESCO
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences) suggests several
scenarios: "It would mean convincing
the food, water and energy sectors to work together, rather than in
silos. It will take strong institutions at both the national and
international levels to satisfy competing demands and defuse tension
when it arises, such as over proposals for shale gas extraction, mass
irrigation or dam construction.” Currently, these different
constituencies are not working together, or not anywhere closely
enough. Efforts must focus on joining them up to create a more
comprehensive, integrated approach to water management. It is a missing
key to making access to freshwater a reality for all, and it is long
overdue.
The
stakes are high today. Water security is essential to sustainable
development, and vital to building inclusive, peaceful societies. Yet
billions of people remain vulnerable to water scarcity, deteriorating
water quality and such water-related disasters as floods and droughts.
Women, children and those living in poverty suffer the heaviest
burden. As highlighted in the 2012 MDG Report (LINK), women are
disproportionately affected by water scarcity. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
71% of the water collection burden falls on women and girls; this heavy
burden is also the case in other parts of the world. If women hold
less than 6% of all ministerial positions in the environment, natural
resources & energy, how about increasing women in decision-making,
in the spirit of water cooperation?
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
UNESCO contributes to the mdg of ensuring environmental sustainability thru freshwater
- © UNESCO/Vytautas Knyva
Zuvintas lake, Lithuania
Freshwater
is a priority for UNESCO. We have contributed to the relevant
Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability
across what may be called the UNESCO Water Family, including:
- the flagship International Hydrological Programme;
- the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, the world’s largest postgraduate water education facility, which has trained 15,400 water professionals from over 160 countries;
- a network of 18 water-related centres under UNESCO auspices;
- the World Water Assessment Programme hosted by UNESCO, the flagship UN-Water programme that brings together 30 UN agencies and produces the now-yearly World Water Development Reports; and
- the 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
What
does improved water cooperation look like? Gretchen Kalonji (UNESCO
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences) suggests several
scenarios: "It would mean convincing
the food, water and energy sectors to work together, rather than in
silos. It will take strong institutions at both the national and
international levels to satisfy competing demands and defuse tension
when it arises, such as over proposals for shale gas extraction, mass
irrigation or dam construction.” Currently, these different
constituencies are not working together, or not anywhere closely
enough. Efforts must focus on joining them up to create a more
comprehensive, integrated approach to water management. It is a missing
key to making access to freshwater a reality for all, and it is long
overdue.
The
stakes are high today. Water security is essential to sustainable
development, and vital to building inclusive, peaceful societies. Yet
billions of people remain vulnerable to water scarcity, deteriorating
water quality and such water-related disasters as floods and droughts.
Women, children and those living in poverty suffer the heaviest
burden. As highlighted in the 2012 MDG Report (LINK), women are
disproportionately affected by water scarcity. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
71% of the water collection burden falls on women and girls; this heavy
burden is also the case in other parts of the world. If women hold
less than 6% of all ministerial positions in the environment, natural
resources & energy, how about increasing women in decision-making,
in the spirit of water cooperation?
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
UNESCO contributes to the mdg of ensuring environmental sustainability thru freshwater
- © UNESCO/Vytautas Knyva
Zuvintas lake, Lithuania
Freshwater
is a priority for UNESCO. We have contributed to the relevant
Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability
across what may be called the UNESCO Water Family, including:
- the flagship International Hydrological Programme;
- the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, the world’s largest postgraduate water education facility, which has trained 15,400 water professionals from over 160 countries;
- a network of 18 water-related centres under UNESCO auspices;
- the World Water Assessment Programme hosted by UNESCO, the flagship UN-Water programme that brings together 30 UN agencies and produces the now-yearly World Water Development Reports; and
- the 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks.
Working together to provide water for all
- © IUPAC
©IUPAC
Freshwater
is the common denominator of today’s most pressing challenges, such as
health, agriculture, energy, and urbanization. But this limited, finite
resource is often poorly managed and faces severe pressure everywhere.
How can the world work more closely together to overcome these present
challenges, and ensure that access to freshwater, a human right, is
available to all? To advance this most vital cause, UN-Water has
designated UNESCO to lead United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC) in 2013. Celebrations will kick off at UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters on 11 February.
- © NASA
Two capital cities on opposite banks of the Congo River: Brazzaville on the north side, and Kinshasa on the south side.
Freshwater
flows freely, unconfined by political boundaries. For example, the
world has 276 river basins with at least one tributary crossing an
international boundary. These transboundary basins cover an estimated
46% of the Earth’s land surface, which host about 40% of the world’s
population. Communities sharing freshwater resources may have competing
needs or claims, requiring that traditional stakeholders in freshwater
management -- namely, scientists, governments, policy makers -- join
forces with individuals or organizations outside this “water box”, such
as sociologists, ministries for women or indigenous peoples, community
activists and civil society.
What
does improved water cooperation look like? Gretchen Kalonji (UNESCO
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences) suggests several
scenarios: "It would mean convincing
the food, water and energy sectors to work together, rather than in
silos. It will take strong institutions at both the national and
international levels to satisfy competing demands and defuse tension
when it arises, such as over proposals for shale gas extraction, mass
irrigation or dam construction.” Currently, these different
constituencies are not working together, or not anywhere closely
enough. Efforts must focus on joining them up to create a more
comprehensive, integrated approach to water management. It is a missing
key to making access to freshwater a reality for all, and it is long
overdue.
The
stakes are high today. Water security is essential to sustainable
development, and vital to building inclusive, peaceful societies. Yet
billions of people remain vulnerable to water scarcity, deteriorating
water quality and such water-related disasters as floods and droughts.
Women, children and those living in poverty suffer the heaviest
burden. As highlighted in the 2012 MDG Report (LINK), women are
disproportionately affected by water scarcity. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
71% of the water collection burden falls on women and girls; this heavy
burden is also the case in other parts of the world. If women hold
less than 6% of all ministerial positions in the environment, natural
resources & energy, how about increasing women in decision-making,
in the spirit of water cooperation?
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
The IYWC may be taking place over the course of 2013, but its fundamental goal is to start paving the path for a more peaceful and sustainable future. The projected world population increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion in 2050 will intensify demand for freshwater, boosting global agricultural consumption by 20% and hydroelectricity & other energy needs by 60%. Would these figures spell imminent water wars, notably in regions where water supplies are declining? Fortunately not, thanks to water cooperation! Contrary to popular belief, people are not more likely to fight over water when there is less of it. Cooperation is more frequent than conflict when it comes to water. Over the past 70 years, incidences of cooperation have outnumbered conflicts by 2 to 1. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 survived three major conflicts and remains intact today.
The IYWC is ultimately about finding common purpose around freshwater, in the diversity of our interests and points of view. By choosing cooperation, not competition, we can make freshwater a force for peace.
UNESCO contributes to the mdg of ensuring environmental sustainability thru freshwater
- © UNESCO/Vytautas Knyva
Zuvintas lake, Lithuania
Freshwater
is a priority for UNESCO. We have contributed to the relevant
Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability
across what may be called the UNESCO Water Family, including:
- the flagship International Hydrological Programme;
- the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, the world’s largest postgraduate water education facility, which has trained 15,400 water professionals from over 160 countries;
- a network of 18 water-related centres under UNESCO auspices;
- the World Water Assessment Programme hosted by UNESCO, the flagship UN-Water programme that brings together 30 UN agencies and produces the now-yearly World Water Development Reports; and
- the 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks.
“Water, water everywhere, only if we share” Kick off of the International Year of Water Cooperation in Paris
Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO; Michel Jarraud,
UN-Water Chair and Secretary-General of the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO); and Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Tajikistan today launched the International Year of
Water Cooperation 2013 at UNESCO Headquarters, in Paris. The Year was
proclaimed by the United Nations at the initiative of Tajikistan and
UNESCO has been designated by UN-Water to coordinate activities during
the year.
The launching ceremony featured a video message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and messages from the Presidents of Kenya and Mongolia.
The participants stressed the central role
of water in ensuring sustainable development, public health, poverty
alleviation and combating the effects of climate change.
“Water is not just one subject among
others, it is the central subject of international cooperation,” said
the Director-General of UNESCO […] In 2010, the UN General Assembly
recognized water as a human right and this must now be translated into
reality. In a world where 300 water basins are shared between several
countries, this can only be achieved through cooperation,” Ms Bokova
said.
“More than 780 million people still do
not have access to improved water and two and a half billion people have
no access to improved sanitation services,” stressed the Chair of UN
Water as he advocated reinforced cooperation in this area. He pointed
out that that 40% of all natural disasters concern water, whether
drought or flood, and voiced strong support for “UNESCO’s effort in
favour of water diplomacy as an essential instrument of dialogue and
cooperation to create a more peaceful world.”
Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan for his part declared that “we
need to strengthen water diplomacy to achieve the 2015 [deadline] of the
Millennium Goals. Only close cooperation can secure the achievement of
water goals for people, the environment and the economy. […] We must
make this year, a year of strengthened mutual understanding, cooperation
and dialogue.”
France’s Minister Delegate for
Development, Pascal Canfin, stressed the importance his government gives
to environmental sustainability through water cooperation. He pledged
France’s commitment to help especially Saharan Africa overcome growing
water shortage. “The Millennium Development Goals regarding water have
almost been reached, but the objectives that they set out are
insufficient as they do not address the issue of [water] quality.”
Launching events continued during the
day, notably with the participation of young people from France, Japan
and the Netherlands at a youth event hosted by the municipality of Paris
at the Pavillion de l’Eau.
During the launch ceremony, Mega Kumar
of India presented her slogan for the International Year of Water
Cooperation: Water, water everywhere, only if we share.” Ms Kumar’s
slogan was chosen from over 12,000 slogans submitted as part of a
world-wide competition.
****
Τρίτη 12 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
“Water for Peace” global consultations (11-17 February 2013)
Dear colleagues,
From
11 to 17 February we urge you to use the opportunity to promote the
importance of transboundary water cooperation within the "Water for
Peace" discussion http://www.worldwewant2015.org/water/voices in the framework of the currently ongoing UN-led global debate on the post-2015 Development Agenda.
The
week “Water for Peace” aims to stress the role of transboundary water
cooperation in the management and protection of our water resources and
to address the challenges and ways forward for such cooperation. The
discussion also paves the way for water issues in the future sustainable
development goals (SDGs).
The UNECE Water Convention
secretariat, together with UNESCO, ESCAP and WWF and in the framework of
UN-Water, is moderating and stimulating the “Water for Peace” debate.
Among
others, the discussion provides a great opportunity to stress the
importance of solid legal and institutional frameworks for cooperation,
including those provided by the UNECE Water Convention.
We urge you to join the debate and make your voice heard! Here are some possible actions:
- Express your views, participate to polls and to debates on http://www.worldwewant2015.org/water/voices
- Follow on Twitter (#waterpost2015) or on Facebook (WaterPost2015)
- Check out the other water consultations on http://www.worldwewant2015.org/water
- Vote for Water at http://www.myworld2015.org/ !
Δευτέρα 11 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
Σάββατο 2 Φεβρουαρίου 2013
Water and Food - Framing Paper
| Can't view this? Click the URL or paste it into your browser: http://www.fao.org/nr/water/waterfood2015.html |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Εγγραφή σε:
Αναρτήσεις (Atom)