Jan Hassing Senior Policy Adviser, Water Resources Management DHI Water & Environment “The role of water in achieving the Millennium Development Goals”

Outline of presentation The global water situation - a water crisis? The water challenge - what are the global priorities New solutions - towards Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) The international response - commitments and targets Water and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) The Johannesburg 2005 target on IWRM - how to meet it? - status on achieving it? The global challenge and obligation

The global water situation

The global water situation: Gloomy statistics - but no doomsday scenario!

Why is water resources management critical ? Population growthEconomic growth Almost constant amount of water in the cycle Increasing pollution Increasing demand Increased competition for scarce water Need for allocation and conflict resolution

A few global figures The “blue planet”: 70% covered by water But only 2.5% freshwater - of which <1% usable by mankind

The World’s freshwater (year 2000) (cubic km per year) 110,000 precipitation 40,000 runoff and infiltration 13,500 economically available 4,500 abstraction 2,440 consumptive use

Global water situation 12,000 km 3 /yr available Actual (year 2000): 4,000 km 3 /yr ”Water stress” = 1,700 m 3 /ps/yr 6+ billion people ”Water scarcity” = 1,000 m 3 /ps/yr Sources: World Water Council; SAM Study Water: a market of the future (2007); Global Water Intelligence ; OECD, Global trends (2000); DHI (2009)..

A water stressed World Water availability per capita: World average: 7,000 cu.m/cap/yr Canada 94,000 cu.m/cap/yr Gaza Strip 52 cu.m/cap/yr “Water stress”: < 1,700 cu.m/cap/yr “Water scarcity”:< 1,000 cu.m/cap/yr Water stress 2000: 508 mill. in 31 countries 2025:3000 mill. in 48 countries

Physical scarcity: primary water supply of country exceeds 60 percent of potentially utilizable water resources Economic scarcity: additional storage and conveyance facilities must be increased by more than 25 percent to meet primary water supply needs Source: IWMI

Pressure on water: Global trends

Does climate change aggravate the World’s water problems?

The overall picture IPCC WG 2 Fourth Assessment Report, April 2007: Climate Change Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability Global warming will hit through water: Through climate change :Through climate change : - changes in the hydrological cycle - changes in the hydrological cycle - sea level rise - sea level rise - increased water temperatures - increased water temperatures Through increased climate variability:Through increased climate variability: - more serious and frequent extremes, - more serious and frequent extremes, such as floods, droughts, typhoons

IPCC Precipitation projections > 2090 Northern Winter left; Summer right

Projected change in annual precipitation by 2050 (?) : Climate changes affecting water resources management - ?!

The overall picture Wet getting wetter – dry getting drier - plus 10-40% in wet regions (mostly North) - plus 10-40% in wet regions (mostly North) - minus 10-30% in dry regions (mostly South) - minus 10-30% in dry regions (mostly South) Changes in snow cover -> 1/6 of World population experiencing lower run-off from major mountain ranges -> 1/6 of World population experiencing lower run-off from major mountain ranges Some geographical hot spots - Africa South of Sahara - Africa South of Sahara - large coastal cities - large coastal cities - mega deltas in Asia - mega deltas in Asia - small island states - small island states - hurting the poor in the poor regions!

A message to take from the IPPC report Energy is the focus for mitigation Water must become focus of adaptation

The water challenge

The World’s assessment A water crisis? Or a crisis of water governance?

11 basic water management challenges -- as identified in the first ”World Water Development Report” issued in Kyoto in March 2003

Challenges to life and well-being: 1. Securing basic needs and health 2. Securing food 3. Protecting ecosystems 4. Addressing competing urban needs 5. Promoting cleaner industry 6. Developing energy

Challenges to stewardship and water governance: 7. Mitigating risks and coping with uncertainty 8. Sharing water across boundaries 9. Valuing water 10. Ensuring the knowledge base 11. Governing water wisely

Meeting basic needs Global figures (2003) - people without: Water:> 1.1 bill. > 2.1 bill. less 50 lcpd Sanitation:> 2.5 bill. Water related deaths: > 5 mill./yr Distance > 1 km => less than 10 lcpd

Water for people Water for food Securing basic water needs takes 50 l/cap/day => a political will problem! Securing our basic diet takes 2500 l/cap/day => a real water problem !

Securing food supply Food needs water! 1999 to 2025: Grain production: + 40% => Irrigation: %!? (IWMI)

Protecting ecosystems Aquatic ecosystems (drying, polluting) Rivers running dry:Yellow River, Colorado... Lakes drying: Aral Sea, Chad.. Biodiversity UNEP: 50% decline in freshwater species since 1970!

Sharing our water resources... More than 40% live in shared basins! Share “reasonably and equitably”! (Helsinki Rules, in force 1966) But how ….. Water as a “source of conflict”? Or as a “lubricant of peace”? Global examples: Nile River Mekong River Murray-Darling

Changing directions

Why this situation? What went wrong?

The problem: Traditional Supply Management Focus on technical solutions Isolated projects: – Irrigation and drainage – Water and sanitation – Flood control – Hydropower – Industry by fragmented, sub-sectoral authorities Supply fix, rather than demand management Little attention to environmental and social impacts

Towards a solution: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

IWRM - a definition ? “ IWRM is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without com- promising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” GWP, TEC

Managing competing uses: Water for people Water for food Water for nature Water for other uses Cross-sectoral integration Enabling environment Institutions Management tools

The way forward…: Integrated Water Resources Management Structure Economic Efficiency Equity Environmental Sustainability Management Instruments  Assessment  Information  Allocation Instruments Enabling Environment  Policies  Legislation Institutional Framework  Central - Local  River Basin  Public - Private Balance “water for livelihood” and “water as a resource”

What makes water special to manage? Manage water in the context of the basin (ex. European law: EU Water Framework Directive)

Understanding IWRM What to “integrate”? What is the “I” in IWRM?

Natural system integration Freshwater Coastal zone Land Water Surface water Groundwater Quantity Quality Upstream Downstream

Human system integration Mainstreaming of water resources in national policies: - economic policy - food policy - environment policy, - health policy, - energy policy

Virtual water as a means to manage water ?

The international response

The global agenda: Mar del Plata 1977 Dublin/Rio 1992 Millennium 2000, WWF Hague 2000 UN 2002 WSSD Johannesburg 2002 WWF Kyoto 2003 WWF Mexico 2006

The 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Goal 7 – Ensure environmental sustainability The “water target”: “Halving proportion of people without access to safe drinking water supply and sanitation by 2015”: =>serving 230,000 people/day with water =>serving 430,000 people/day with sanitation !!! An important challenge, but not the only ….! And the role of water in the other MDG’s often forgotten!

Water as a Human Right UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights November 2002 “The human right to drinking water is fundamental for life and health. Sufficient and safe drinking water is a precondition for the realization of all human rights”

Population without improved Water Supply & Sanitation MDG Goals Inspired by: Financing Water For All, World Panel, 2003

Existing Problems: Drinking Water

Existing Problems: Sanitation

Water and the MDG’s

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Other MDG’s strongly dependent on water : Poverty: Halving by 2015 the proportion on less than 1 $/day Hunger: Halving by 2015 the proportion suffering from hunger Health: Reducing child mortality, and major water related diseases

Water and the poverty goal Water as a production factor for the poor Water infrastructure as development catalyst Reduced vulnerability to floods and droughts Enhanced ecosystem - and livelihoods Reduced water related diseases - deaths!

Water and the hunger goal Grain production from irrigation Water for subsistence agriculture, gardens, livestock and tree crops Water for fisheries and other foods Reduced urban hunger due to cheaper food prices Better nutritional status for healthy people

Water and the hunger goal - some recent figures 50% increase in water use for food production by from 4500 cukm/yr to 6700 cukm/yr! Total 2200 Rainfed 1950 Irrigation 250 New land 600 Ex. land 1000 Savings 350

Water and the hunger goal - implications of these estimates Strong focus on rainfed agriculture Strong focus on smallholders Increasing challenge in trade-off between water for food production and water for ecosystems (environmental flows) Need for IWRM approaches!

The WSSD target on IWRM

Johannesburg the 2005 target for water!! The WSSD Plan of Implementation: “… developing IWRM and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries” The only short term target on water => a test on our willingness to act!

The WSSD target “Develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries”

Why such IWRM plans ? Two good reasons: Instrument to mainstream water in national economy and development Instrument to help achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG´s) by 2015: on poverty, hunger, health and environment (incl. water supply and sanitation!)

Why this target? What is the message? Translate IWRM into concrete plans… Complete plans by specific date ! All countries - not just the poor and dry! Focus on the MDG’s in the poorest countries Support to developing countries Good intentions, but unfortunate language: Not traditional “plans”…! Not completion by !

Some other messages in Art. 26 ·The basin should be considered as the basic unit for integrating management. ·Priority to meeting basic human needs, particularly the poor. ·Balancing ecosystem needs with the needs of other water users. ·Stakeholder participation, empowerment and capacity building ·Accountability of public and private organisations

Meeting the WWSD target - how?

A coherent approach to change Enabling environment Institutional roles Management instruments Strategy

Not just another “master plan” IWRM strategy >< traditional water plan: –Dynamic rather than static—laying down a framework –Cyclic, not linear

The IWRM planning cycle COMMITMENT TO REFORMESTABLISH STATUS PREPARE STRATEGY ANALYSE GAPS IMPLEMENT FRAMEWORKS MONITOR PROGRESS CCCOMMITMENT TO ACTIONS

Implement Frameworks Framework for water governance Framework for water infrastructure development Framework for water and sanitation service delivery Framework for water efficiency improvements

Not just another “Water Plan” IWRM strategy >< traditional water plan: –Broader focus: water in relation to larger development goals –Extensive stakeholder participation

Approaches to developing a strategy Targeted approach - focusing on specific water problems Broad approach - considering the potential of water resources development and management to advance development goals.

Linking to other strategies and plans –National strategies to meet Millennium Development Goals –Country poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) –National Five Year Plans or Sustainable Development Strategies –National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans –National Plans on women’s development and empowerment –National Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change

An example: Burkina Faso’s water strategy... Strategies for WRM, supply and demand Water Policy, Water Act Complementary strategies Education – Awareness- Consultation - R&D National Plan =>Portfolio of actions ! ProtectionUsesDemand Mgt Monitoring Information Disasters Pricing and financingInternational cooperation

Meeting the WWSD target - the status

Survey by Global Water Partnership 2004 & 2006: 10 indicators in 3 groups Process and capacity Substance of Plan Steps towards implementation

Global status for developing countries as reported to CSD 12 (2004), WWF (2006) and to CSD (2008) Total* world figures:2004**2006***2008**** Good progress:14%25%38% Some steps:51%50%51% Initial stage:43%25%11% *:Mostly developed countries **:GWP survey ***:GWP survey ****:UN DESA survey

Conclusion - the challenge

The challenge The World faces a challenge, and has an obligation…..: WSSD:“Develop IWRM and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries” The MDG’s: a global challenge and commitment Need for financial and technical assistance to the developing countries

Thank you!