UN officials spotlight need for prevention systems to deal with water-related disasters
6 March 2013 –
Early warning systems and cooperation among countries are some of the
measures needed to increase resilience to water-related disasters,
United Nations officials stressed today. “Preparing for the worst can
save lives. That is why we need early warning systems, disaster
education and resilient structures,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said
in his remarks to the Special Thematic Session of the General Assembly on Water and Disasters.
Despite significant progress on development goals, many challenges remain
27 February 2013 – While countries have made remarkable progress in the achievement of some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
there are still areas where too little has occurred since nations
first committed to work on these issues in 2000, Helen Clark,
Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told participants at the 2013 global conference "Making the MDGs work"
in Bogotá, Colombia. Miss Clark warned that "there are goals and
targets where too little progress has been made – for example on
maternal mortality reduction, universal access to reproductive health,
and improved sanitation."
UN calls on countries to ensure access to water and sanitation in development agenda
21 February 2013 – The United Nations and its partners
today called on the international community to prioritize ensuring
access to water and sanitation to vulnerable populations in the
'post-2015' development agenda, stressing this would help combat
inequality and promote human rights and sustainability.
UNEP launches 3rd Africa Environment Outlook-3
21 February 2013 - The African Environment Outlook-3
(AEO-3) places special focus on links between environment and health,
pointing to the statistic that environmental risks contribute 28% of
Africa's disease burden. Diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malaria
account for 60% of known environmental health impacts in Africa. The
report also spotlights a lack of capacity to deal with the growing
effects of climate change; inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene - in
2010, only 60% of the sub-Saharan Africa population had access to safe
water; and poor waste disposal practices.'Don't let our future dry up' is the slogan for 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification
21 February 2013
– The goal of the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification, celebrated
annually on 17 June, is to create awareness about the risks of drought
and water scarcity, calling attention to the importance of sustaining
healthy soils as part of post Rio+20 agenda and post-2015 sustainable
development agenda. This year's slogan calls for everyone to take action
to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity,
desertification and drought.
UN kicks off year promoting international cooperation on water management
11 February 2013
– The United Nations launched the International Year of Water
Cooperation, which seeks to provide a platform for countries to
collaborate in the management of this precious resource in the interest
of peace and development.
“Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his video message for the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013. “We must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource.”
The General Assembly proclaimed 2013 International Year for Water Cooperation in 2010, following a proposal from Tajikistan. The Year will serve to raise awareness and prompt action on the multiple dimensions of water cooperation, such as sustainable and economic development, climate change and food security.
“Overexploitation, management, financing of water resources, all of these aspects are incredibly important and cooperation at different levels is therefore critical,” UNESCO Science Specialist Ana Persic said during a press conference to mark the start of the Year at UN Headquarters in New York.
The official launch of the Year took place at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, France. Opened by the agency's Director-General Irina Bokova, the event gathered representatives from inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organization (NGOs), scientists and policymakers from around the world to discuss themes such as existing mechanisms for water cooperation and regional, national and local cooperation around river basins.
Cooperation on water issues will also be the theme for World Water Day, observed on 22 March.
UNEP releases GEO-5 for Youth at TUNZA 2013 Conference
11 February 2013- The opening ceremony of the 2013 TUNZA International Youth Conference on the Environment saw the launch of Tunza Acting for a Better World: GEO-5 for Youth,
which showcases innovative sustainable development projects run by
young people around the world. The publication incorporates key findings
from the UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5) in order to equip
young readers with the latest science-based information on the current
state of the global environment, including water, climate change, air
quality, biodiversity, land use, and other areas.
UN expert calls on Thailand to eliminate disparities on access to water and sanitation
8 February 2013 – Thailand must step up its
efforts to ensure all their citizens have access to water and
sanitation, an independent United Nations expert said on a press
conference on 8 February, noting that there is currently a stark
contrast between populations who are able to enjoy this basic need, and
those who do not.
Disruption of sanitation services in Syria putting children's health at risk
8 February 2013
– The severe disruption of water and sanitation services and a lack of
access to basic hygiene in Syria have increased the risk of water-borne
diseases among children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned, following a nationwide assessment.
The UNECE Water Convention opens its accession to all UN Member States
6 February 2013
- 17 years after its entry into force, the UNECE Convention on the
Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
(Water Convention)
is turning into a global convention. Having received the necessary
number of ratifications, the amendments to the UNECE Water Convention
opening it for accession to all United Nations Member States enter into
force on 6 February 2013.This is a groundbreaking development as the Convention was originally negotiated as a regional instrument by countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It is also a major milestone of the International Year of Water Cooperation celebrated in 2013.
Commenting the entry into force of the amendments, UNECE Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj said: "Water is the critical resource of our century. While demands for water continue to increase, availability is dwindling. What is not often called attention to is that the water crisis is a transboundary water crisis. As sixty percent of the world's freshwaters are transboundary, water cooperation is critical to avoid conflicts and ensure effective and sustainable use of shared resources. This is where the legal and intergovernmental platform of the Water Convention as well as the experience accumulated under it are vital."
Syria: UN begins delivery of safe water supplies for 10 million people
4 February 2013
- A large-scale operation is under way in Syria to secure safe water
supplies for more than 10 million people – close to half the population,
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said, amid reports that the
quality and quantity of water is continuing to deteriorate with
negative impacts for children's health.
UN expert on right to safe drinking water and sanitation on mission to Thailand
29 January 2013
- UN Special Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque is visiting Thailand
from 1 to 8 February 2013 to assess the country's developments and
remaining challenges toward the realization of the human rights to water
and sanitation. On 8 February at 11:00 am, Ms. de Albuquerque will
share with the media the preliminary findings of her mission at a press
conference at the premises of the UN Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).Be part of the climate change and water-related risks discussion!
24 January 2013
- Have an opinion about climate change? Let your voice be heard on the
Post-2015 Thematic Consultation on Water website where the Week 2
discussion in the Water Resources Management stream, coordinated by UNECE, focuses on climate change and water-related risks. Follow on Twitter (#waterpost2015) or on Facebook (WaterPost2015). UN General Assembly creates group to work on sustainable development goals
22 January 2013
– The United Nations General Assembly has established a working group
that will focus on the design of a set of sustainable development goals
(SDGs) to promote global prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social
equity and environmental protection. The SDGs seek to guide countries in achieving targeted outcomes within a specific time period, such as on universal access to sustainable energy and clean water for all, and will build on the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their 2015 deadline.
The MDGs have been instrumental in driving down poverty rates and increasing access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation, but progress has not been uniform and the UN is currently ramping up efforts to help countries achieve the goals by the target date.
UN-DESA and UNU launch Water Learning Centre
20 January 2013
– The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UN
University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) have
developed the Water Learning Centre (WLC), an e-Learning programme to
enhance national capacities to develop and implement sustainable natural
resource management strategies at local, regional, sub-regional and
basin scales.
We shall sink or swim together! [
– 3.4 MB]
18 January 2013
– On the occasion of the launch of 2013 International Year of Water
Cooperation, the January-March issue of UNESCO's magazine "A World of
Science" focuses on managing conflict and cooperation over water. This
issue highlights case studies on water cooperation in different regions
of the world and emphasizes that strong institutions and cooperative
mechanisms reduce conflicts and promote peaceful resolution of water
conflicts. Take part in the selection of themes of the World Water Development Reports 6 and 7!
The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) provides a comprehensive
review of the state of the world’s freshwater resources. Until 2012,
WWDR was published every three years. From 2014 on, the WWDR will become
an annual report, which will be accompanied by a synthesis report
published every five years.The theme for WWDR5, to be published in 2014, is “Water and Energy”. The World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) is now carrying out a consultation with stakeholders from various fields to identify emerging and water related critical issues which could become potential WWDR themes for the 6th and 7th editions to be published in 2015 and 2016. WWAP launches a call for participation in a survey which is open until 21 January 2013.
"There can be no sustainable development without sustainable water management" declares UNESCO's Director General
18 January 2013 - The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, attended the 1st International Water Summit,
which took place in Abu Dhabi from 15 to 17 January 2013. The Summit
brought together policymakers, scientists, experts and business
executives in order to promote water sustainability in arid regions, and
to tackle the urgent water and wastewater challenges they are facing.
Irina Bokova called for "a global compact on sustainable and more
integrated water management", emphasizing that "water cooperation is one
of the keys for water sustainability".
Launch of Post-2015 Water Sub-Consultations
14 January 2013
- The sub-consultations component of the post-2015 thematic
consultation on water have been launched. The sub-consultations,
scheduled to take place between January and February 2013, are designed
to engage stakeholders across four themes: water, sanitation and hygiene
(WASH); water resources management; wastewater and water quality; and
voices. Participants are encouraged to participate through the Twitter
account @waterpost2015 and using the hashtag #waterpost2015, as well as through the WaterPost2015 Facebook account. 
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