A Potential Global Goal for Water

National Consultations

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GWP AND UN-WATER

Guided by the priorities agreed at the Rio+20 Conference 2012.

Drawing on several consultative processes:

• Thematic, national and regional consultations (incl GWP in 2013).

• High Level Panel.

• Open Working Group on SDGs (OWG).

• Budapest Water Summit.

Overall objectives and process

To contribute to the SDG consultation process as well as to the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda at large…

Aims of the national consultations

To obtain views from 30 key countries on the post-2015 development agenda for water and sustainable development.

To build awareness and examine the recommendation presented in the UN-Water paper on a dedicated goal for water from the country perspective.

Influence the global policy dialogue to ensure water is not neglected in the future development agenda.

To examine implications of adopting the goal and targets.

The Future We Want: “water is at the core of sustainable development”

Water is at the heart of adaptation to climate change

Billions lack access to the most basic water supply and sanitation services

Increasing demand, pollution, risks, competition for water resources

Current situation presents a global threat to human health and wellbeing as well as to the integrity of ecosystems

Why a dedicated water goal?

A dedicated global goal on water provides a unique opportunity to address this situation, managing the water cycle in a holistic and sustainable way.Splitting water across multiple goals risks contributing to a silo approach.

Going beyond the

MDG focus on

drinking water and

sanitation

Building on the MDG Target on water supply and basic sanitation

The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation– Obligations on all Member

States for progressive realization of the right

Finishing the “unfinished business” in WASH to provide access for all must remain a top priority

Building on existing commitmentsand experience: Water, Sanitation, Hygeine

Finishing the “unfinished business” in water resources management is also a priority

– Agenda 21 (1992), subsequent CSD meetings (2005, 2008) and Rio+20 (2012)

UN-Water WRM survey of more than 130 countries presented to Rio+20 conference in 2012.

– widespread adoption of integrated approaches to water management,

– But… Need to implement IWRM plans prepared

after the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002

Significant challenges remain!

Building on existing commitmentsand experience: Water Resources Management

Building on existing commitmentsand experience: Governance

Strengthening water governance highlighted in many international agreements.

Underpins all other water targets and also links to related goals such as food, energy & health.

- Ensure access to and make good use of finance.- Build stronger institutions and regulation.- Establish accountable, participatory and transparent processes.

Improving water quality and wastewater management needs to be a priority too– Water quality has to date been very

much neglected

– 80% of wastewater is discharged without treatment

– Impact on the water resource and therefore on drinking-water supply

– Impact on ecosystems

These concerns were clearly expressed at Rio+20

Building on existing commitments and experience: Wastewater and water quality

Increased resilience to water-related disasters– Floods and droughts (Climate

Change/adaptation)

– Human-influenced disasters such as chemical spills

Rio+20 called for stronger coordination between disaster risk reduction and development planning

Building on existing commitmentsand experience: water related disasters

.. which cover the dimensions of sustainable development and contribute towards poverty reduction

Post-2015 development goals need to address five priority areas…

Healthy people

Universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, improving water quality and raising service standards

Increased prosperity

The sustainable use and development of water resources, increasing and sharing the available benefits

Equitable societies through

Robust and effective water governance with more effective institutions and administrative systems

Protected ecosystems

Improved water quality and wastewater management taking account of environmental limits

Resilient

communities

Reduced risk of water-related disasters to protect vulnerable groups and minimize economic losses

Proposed Targets

A. Achieve universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene

B. Improve by (x%) the sustainable use and development of water resources in all countries

C. All countries strengthen equitable, participatory and accountable water governance

D. Reduce untreated wastewater by (x%), nutrient pollution by (y%) and increase wastewater reuse by (z%)

E. Reduce mortality by (x%) and economic loss by (y%) from natural and human-induced water-related disasters

Universal access to sanitation, benefits outweigh costs 5.5 to 1 Universal access to drinking-water, the ratio is 2 to 1 Irrigation infrastructure in Africa, rates of return are up to 26% Overexploitation of groundwater Middle East and Northern Africa 2% of

GDP Watershed protection initiatives in the US yield up to USD 200 for every

dollar invested, compared to conventional water treatment costs

One dollar invested in public water and sewer infrastructure adds

USD 9 to the national economy Early warning systems for storms, floods, and droughts throughout Asia

indicate potential returns of up to USD 559 for each USD 1 invested

A water goal makes economic sense

InfrastructureWater supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydro, water treatment, flood control - operation and maintenance and the sustainability of services, including governance issues

Policy, laws, plans & coordination Institutions Enhanced human capacities Remove barriers to attract finance New science and technology

solutions Monitoring, data and reporting

Implications: implementing the targets

Next steps

1. 30 National consultations Feb-May 2014 (GWP) - feed into Open Working Group: May 2014

2. Interaction with OWG/Member States/Other emerging SDG topics: during 2014

3. OWG report to General Assembly: September 2014

4. Intergovernmental negotiations in 2015 with General Assembly decision on post-2015 Development Agenda: Sept 2015

This Country Consultation is undertaken in collaboration with UN-Water and will contribute to the formulation of a water goal and targets

www.unwater.org