ENDING POVERTY IN OUR LIFETIME?

THE NEW SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS . . .

NEED TO BE WATERED!DOUG MERREY

CAROLINA FRIENDS OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE LUNCHEONOCTOBER 22, 2015

ROAD MAP

Millennium Development Goals – What are they?Water an afterthought

Sustainable Development Goals – what’s new?Watering the goals

Prospects – will extreme poverty be ended by 2030?

THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS [MDGS]

AGREED IN 2000 AT “MILLENNIUM SUMMIT” AT UNITED NATIONS 8 DEVELOPMENT GOALS TO BE MET BY 201521 TARGETS & 60 INDICATORS—ANNUAL REPORTS PRODUCED

BY THE UNITED NATIONSINTENDED TO FOCUS INVESTMENTS ON CRITICAL PRIORITIESWATER NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL FORMULATIONS

WATER & SANITATION TARGET ADDED AT THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 2002

WATER & SANITATION – A TARGET UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GOAL:

“HALVE, BY 2015, THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SUSTAINABLE

ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER AND BASIC

SANITATION”

1. ERADICATE EXTREME HUNGER AND POVERTY 1.2 BILLION STILL VERY POOR <$1.25/DAY2. UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION

3. PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY, EMPOWER WOMEN 3 TARGETS, PROGRESS MIXED4. REDUCE CHILDHOOD MORTALITY 2/3RDS

5. IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH6. COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHERS

BOTH: PROGRESS BUT WELL SHORT OF TARGETS

7. ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY8. DEVELOP GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT

MULTIPLE TARGETS, MOSTLY NOT MET

WATER AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

ACCESS TO WATER 50% TARGET OFFICIALLY MET MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS: OFFICIAL DATA INFLATED AS SOME WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES DID NOT

KEEP WORKINGFELL FAR SHORT ON SANITATION ACCESS – ONE THIRD HUMANITY

HAS NO ACCESS; OPEN DEFECATION COMMON IN SOUTH ASIA AND PARTS OF AFRICA

ROLE OF WATER IN ACHIEVING FOOD, NUTRITION & ENERGY SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS NOT WELL-RECOGNIZED INTERACTIONS CLEAN WATER—SANITATION—CHILD AND MATERNAL MORTALITY—NUTRITION AND

FOOD SECURITY

THE NEW “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS” [SDGS]

Developed through a lengthy participatory process, facilitated by the United Nations

Applicable to all countries – not only poor countriesFormally adopted at General Assembly September 2015Accommodating many interests 17 goals, 169 targets to be

achieved by 2030EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS!

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WATERING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

More awareness of critical importance of waterAccess to water & sanitation now recognized as a

universal “human right”Applicable to water for producing food?

Progressive achievement of equal [not just “equitable”] access is the goal

“6. WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL”

1. Universal access—safe and affordable drinking water2. Universal access—adequate and equitable sanitation & hygiene3. Improved water quality -- reduced pollution4. Sustainable improvements in water use efficiency5. Protect water-related ecosystems6. Both global collaboration and stronger community management

WATER: SOME GAPSEnsuring long term

sustainability and improvement of water and sanitation services

Water for food security and nutrition

Links to other goals not well-formulated

WATER, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

70% of water used by humans is for food productionFood processing, cleaning up, etc. use more

Water scarcity is a major threat to future food production, exacerbated by climate change impactsNo goal on access to water for production

Linkages water—food—energy—environmentWe are part of a complex planetary system

RESPONSE TO IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE—THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

CHANGES IN RAINFALL, TEMPERATURES ALREADY OCCURRING

MANY POOR REGIONS WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE HIGH PRODUCTION WITHOUT MAJOR INNOVATIONS

CAN WE PRODUCED ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED FUTURE POPULATIONS?

FUTURE PROSPECTS—ENDING EXTREME POVERTY BY 2030?

FINANCE: Will require trillions of dollarsNot likely from traditional aid sourcesPoor countries need to mobilize more resourcesNeed to create conditions to encourage private investments

POLITICAL COMMITMENT: Will governments prioritize these goals as expected?

Need for major policy, institutional reforms-likely?Civil society engagement and coalitions can help

BEST GUESS

MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WILL MAKE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS

GLOBAL COMMUNITY WILL BECOME BETTER AT COLLABORATION

WATER MANAGEMENT WILL RISE HIGHER ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA

INSTITUTIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS