Water Stewardship: a Vision on Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture “Water in the world” Lecture series, March 2 nd 2011 Rob D’hondt

– Guidance – Positive Incentives – Fines / Penalties (regulations / pricing / law) Water Stewardship goes further: Consumption Impact RESPONSE RESPONSE through: Together in the same direction Going one step further…

Footprinting vs. Stewardship Reward Life Cycle Analysis Impacts Volume Accounting Response Communication Footprinting: understanding Stewardship: responding

… with the right tools! A standard to change behavior towards Sustainable Water Management (SWM) – Definition of requirements for SWM – Objective scheme to assess the sustainability – Communicate and award sustainable performance A voluntary scheme for and from water users – Connect and relate European and global processes – Avoid the “carbon situation” A global framework – Developed via a multi-stakeholder process – Complement and support regulatory actions – Recognize and reward water users who take major steps towards SWM – Minimize the impacts at the facility and watershed level

GovernmentalAgencies European Institutions Institutions Research Local & Regional Institutions Private Business NGOs EWP as a platform

European Water Stewardship Program Aquawareness Strategic Partners Water Stewardship Partners 2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Water Stewardship Standard 2011 Implementation Application as business case 2010 Validation Pilot Phase

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business case Phase III Water Stewardship Program

Industry Agriculture Urban Areas Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM Golf Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

Focus for Standard: Impact-based Improved water flow regime Equitable governance Improved water quality Protected habitats Watershed-level targets

Technical assessment is basis but Water is more! Take into account social, political, economic aspects Program Phase I: Standard Development 1 Standard for all sectors: 4 Principles Principle 1: Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity. Principle 2: Ensure the achievement and maintenance of good status in terms of chemical quality and biological elements. Principle 3: Restore and preserve water-cycle related high conservation value ecosystems. Principle 4: Achieve equitable and transparent water governance.

Water example ImpactWater Abstraction PrincipleAchieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity CriteriaEvaluate water abstraction from all sources - Volume - Location - Timing - Effect IndicatorClassification of sources Measuring water abstraction - Effect of water abstraction on source - Water source flow regime issues Program Phase I: Standard Structure

List of Communication Tools ► Awarding SWM Checklist / Evaluation Scheme ► Assessment of SWM Industry Agriculture Urban Areas Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM Golf Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business case Phase III Water Stewardship Program

Key to Success: Balance Level of Detail - Applicability Program Phase II: Validation Pilot Studies Public Consultation Pilot organizations: – provide feedback and expertise – receive first performance analysis

Training Session Kick-Off End Report ca. 3 months On-site Interview Pilot Study Data Collection Standard Development Program Phase II: Pilot Study

Program Phase II: Current Status Pilot organizations: Industry Agriculture Golf Urban Areas

2009 Standard Development Launch of WGs Set up draft Standard for SWM Phase I 2010 Validation Pilot phase Phase II 2011 Implementation Application as business case Phase III Water Stewardship Program

Application as a voluntary scheme: Depends on needs from sectors and stakeholders For Agriculture: - Investigate alignment with existing systems - Link to EU policy (e.g. new CAP) -Identify multifunctional measures Regional Initiative in Global Framework (AWS) Program Phase III: Implementation

Contact Contact and information and Dr Sabine von Wirén-Lehr Program Coordinator European Water Partnership (EWP)