| Issue 30. 21 March 2014 | www.un.org/waterforlifedecade |
| This week in focus | Editor’s note
Welcome to the Decade’s Weekly! Every week it brings you the latest news from the International Decade for Action ’Water for Life’ 2005-2015. Please feel free to forward this newsletter. You can also access this newsletter online. Tip of the week
World Water Day 2014 is dedicated to ’Water and Energy’. Learn more about the interlinkages between these resources with an introduction to the topic, facts and figures, series of information briefs and publications. >> Visit the section on ’Water and Energy’ on the Decade's website |
| #WorldWaterDay World Water Day 2014 kicks off with World Wide celebrations lead by the UN Event packed with activities!
Date: 20 to 22 March 2014 Today is a landmark day for ’Water and Energy,’ not just for those people that advocate awareness and change, but also for the 768 million people that suffer the reality of not having access to improved water sources every day and for the 1.3 billion people who lack access to electricity. This year World Water Day (WWD) highlights the interlinkages between Water and Energy, in a world where the population will need 35% more food, 40% more water and 50% more energy by 2030. As part of WWD celebrations, UN-Water has announced winners for the 2014 edition of ’Water for Life’ UN-Water Best Practices Award bringing recognition to the commitment and successes of water projects at ground level. Today has also marked the launch of the 2014 World Water Development Report (WWDR), a UN-Water flagship report now released annually. The report highlights the need for policies and regulatory frameworks that recognize and integrate approaches to water and energy. It also highlights the connections between water and energy, for example drought diminishing energy production and roughly 75% of all industrial water withdrawals being used for energy production. Raising awareness around the world on Energy and Water issues is essential to creating a future for generations to come and that is what today is all about, spread the word and help raise awareness! >> Tell the World about your event or see what is happening near you |
| In the news | Forthcoming events |
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#WWDR2014
United Nations report warns rising energy demand will stress fresh water resources
The world’s freshwater resources will suffer from efforts to meet the growing global demand for energy, concludes the 2014 United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR). Launched in Tokyo on 21 March, the report critically reviews the lack of coordination and planning between the two domains and urges improved management and planning at all levels to avoid shortages in energy and water supplies, and the further deterioration of natural resources. "The 2014 World Water Development Report shines light on the interdependence between the management of water and energy," said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO "This interdependence calls for vastly improved cooperation between these sectors because there will be no sustainable development without better access to water and energy for all," she added.
The 'Water for Life' UN-Water Best Practices Award intends to promote efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water-related issues by 2015 through recognition of outstanding best practices which can ensure the long-term sustainable management of water resources and contribute to the achievement of internationally agreed goals and targets. The 2014 edition, which focuses on 'Water and Energy', has been awarded on 21 March during the official UN ceremony of World Water Day 2014 taking place at UNU Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan. Category 1 'Best water management practices' has been awarded to a project focusing on policy research in co-management of energy and groundwater in India: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Tata Water Policy Programme (ITP). Category 2 'Best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices' has been awarded to a project focusing on wide-scale implementation and public engagement plan of reclaimed water in Singapore: the 'NEWater programme'.
UN expert urges long-term, rights-based approach to water crisis in Jordan
Following a six day mission in Jordan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, has stated that "Jordan is at a critical moment, the existing emergency measures to the water scarcity problem are not sufficient or sustainable". Jordan is one of the three most water scarce countries in the world. The severe water scarcity has been exacerbated by drought, depletion of groundwater reserves, population growth, inflow of migrant workers and climate change. This combined with several waves of refugees resulting from conflicts in the region, the latest from Syria, has increased these pressures. The Special Rapporteur will present a formal report on this mission to an upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council in September.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the University of Geneva through the platform for International Water Law are opening the 2nd edition of their online course, which will take place between 2 June and 4 July 2014. The course aims to provide professionals involved in negotiating or implementing treaties on or related to freshwater resources with an advanced knowledge of the principles and norms that govern the use, sharing, management and protection of water resources. Deadline for application is 11 May 2014. |
#Sanwatforall
3rd High Level Meeting of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) approaches
Date: 11 April 2014 Time: 1pm
The 2014 High Level Meeting (HLM) of SWA aims to provide a major milestone in the ongoing SWA High-Level Commitments Dialogue (HLCD). The meeting will build upon the previous success of the meetings, as can be seen in the 2013 Progress Update of the 2012 SWA HLM, which showed significant gains have already been achieved, such as increased budgets, strengthened National planning and country-level dialogues. The meeting will bring together ministers responsible for finance, water and sanitation from developing countries, ministries of development cooperation from donor countries, high-level representatives from development banks and leading sanitation agencies. This year's meeting will be jointly opened by the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, and UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
Date: 21 April 2014
This international workshop will discuss the tools for improving the quality of water for human consumption, including information systems, water safety plans and guidelines for quality drinking water. The main objective is to share knowledge and experiences between countries and international organizations. Participants include UN experts, international and national organisations. Registration for the event closes on 10 April 2014. From the Decade's Programmes
#WorldWaterDay
UNW-DPAC and the French Institute organize a series of debates and a film forum on water and our future
Date: 25-27 March 2014
In conjunction with World Water Day celebrations, this series of debates will address various issues related to the future of water, including the relation between water and energy, the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, the Geopolitics of Water, the role of organizations such as the Red Cross and the Army in disasters and emergencies, and how water use can be reduced using new technologies. During the afternoons, a film forum will also show the Yann Arthus-Bertrand documentary "La soif du monde" and the recent Spanish documentary "Guadalquivir". The event is free and open to the public. Date: 3 April 2014
This meeting will focus on the application of the Ruggie Principles for business considering the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. With the exchange of experiences through participatory workshops and presentations, participants will discuss strategies and actions on how to incorporate the Ruggie Principles in business. The workshop invites business representatives from the water and sanitation sector and other water consuming sectors, as well as other interested companies, governments NGOs, researchers and academics to participate. |
