Readings of the WRM Course

RDV Core Training Program FY98 Activity 2.2

Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World --- an UN document, 1997

CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY OPTIONS

D. Action: Recommendations

Bearing in mind existing principles and the recommendations in chapter 18 of Agenda 21, the following action are recommended partly based on the discussion in previous sections of this report:

Manage water quantity and quality together in an integrated and comprehensive manner, taking into account the upstream and downstream consequences of management actions, regional and sectoral relations and social equity.

Base strategies for the sustainable development of water resources on a participatory process that integrates all aspects freshwater management.

Provide equitable access to clean water for all people and include human health and the state of the environment as water resource management indicators.

Develop sustainable water strategies that address basic human needs, as well as the preservation of ecosystems, in ways that are consistent with socio-economic objectives of different societies.

Develop adequate national and regional water policies and plans, and promote cost-efficient water technologies. Water management must be integrated into physical, social and economic planning, including land use planning, forest resource utilization and protection of coastal zones from land based activities. Land and water use are closely intertwined.

Integrate water in economic planning analysis. Recognize water and the environment as vital capital. This means accounting for the value of water in each nation's system of national accounts. The accounts need to reflect the economic losses caused by a degradation of water resources.

Integrate the private sector into the water development process. While people must be provided with access to water for basic needs at affordable cost, the private sector can play a helpful role in seeing that water for a number of industrial and agricultural uses is priced in a manner that reflects its value to society.

Build up needed expertise on water issues among water users and decision-makers at all levels, thus increasing their capacity to deal with complex water management questions. There is a need for people with expertise in hydrology, water quality, water law, water conflict resolution, and people who can identify and help implement the best water technologies. It is essential also to build expertise on dealing with the socio-economic aspects of water management, such as water pricing, and the role of the private sector in water supply and sanitation.

Enhance national water resource assessment capabilities and measurement networks and establish water resource information systems that enable people to understand the options available for sustainable urban, industrial, domestic and agricultural development in combination with environmental conservation.

Pay attention to the role of gender in water resources management. In much of the world, women play a key role in acquiring water and deciding how it is used. They need to be part of the decision making process for water projects and for industrial and land use projects that affect water quality and quantity.

Accelerate or initiate actions that will result in global, international or regional agreements or programmes to address:

Elimination of unsustainable uses of toxic materials, especially Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Accelerate actions within the framework of existing programmes, conventions and agreements towards:

The protection and sustainable use of biodiversity related to fresh water.

The protection of coastal areas and oceans from land based activities.

Develop models of cooperation aiming at maximizing the benefits from the development of transboundary river basins or aquifers.

Accelerate the implementation of the water related activities contained in the Action Plans adopted at the:

International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 1994.

Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995.

Habitat II Conference, Istanbul, 1996.

Within the framework of the World Food Summit Plan of Action, approved by the World Food Summit in Rome in 1996, examine and report on water related activities aiming at securing access to food.

Develop an institutional and regulatory framework to ensure functional water markets and protection of water rights.

Establish, within existing institutions, especially the UN system, a global water information network to compile information with particular emphasis on water quality, quantity and water use. The institutions should also conduct regular global and regional water assessments. Water information programmes should be implemented at national level, and international institutions should propose models to ensure compatibility between data of individual countries. There is a need for a periodic review and it is recommended that the Commission on Sustainable Development carry out periodic global fresh water assessments, using the existing network of experts.

Build on international collaborative arrangements such as the Global Water Partnership, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, World Water Council, and strengthen collaboration with Non Governmental Organizations.

Develop north-south academic partnerships to develop the research capacity on a broad range of water-related issues, including those of quantity and quality and those related to helping people understand the value of water as natural capital.

Develop partnerships with the private sector and industries to take advantage of their expertise to achieve mutual benefits in the water sector.

Given the seriousness of the situation and future risk of crises, there is an urgent need to act now. The international community has to strive for a situation in which there is no undermining of the natural resource base. Land and water need to be protected from long-term degradation that threatens food production, aquatic ecosystems, human health and biodiversity. There is a need to reduce water use per unit of production, using water-efficient technologies. Pollution has to be sharply reduced, and persistent toxic substances that accumulate in the food chain must no longer be released into the environment. Agricultural water use has to become highly efficient, so as to ensure an adequate food supply for everyone. Generally accepted political goals need to be developed based on the fair sharing of benefits from water use.

In order to achieve this future it is necessary for governments to take the steps needed to reach a Global Consensus over and above what is contained in the existing principles and agreements on freshwater resources of the world. Such a Consensus should take into account factors brought out in this report.

Click for a complete copy of the UN document Comprehensive assessment of the freshwater resources of the world

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