5th World Water Forum – Istanbul Benoit Miribel – Director General “ Water Management beyond 2020 for a Changing World”

Water does not need Man, but Man needs Water… « The irresponsibility of men have made that water has become one of the main problem for men in this century ; resolving this problem is now an international priority » Angel Gurria. General Secretary – OCDE.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WATER AND SANITATION !  884 MILLION PEOPLE LACK ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER  2,5 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITHOUT IMPROVED SANITATION  2,2 MILLION PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR DUE TO DISEASES RELATED TO UNSAFE WATER  OUR PLANET IS MADE OF 72% OF WATER BUT 97,5% IS SALTED WATER AND ONLY 2,5% FRESH WATER.  THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH WATER PER INHABITANT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAS STRONGLY DECREASED FROM 17,000 M3 PER YEAR IN 1950 TO 7,500 M3 IN FORCASTS PREDICT 5,100 M3 IN 2025!

THE STAKES OF A GLOBAL RESPONSABILITY  ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND SANITATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR POVERTY REDUCTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  ACCESS TO ADEQUATE DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT AND AN IMPORTANT PRE- REQUISITE FOR HEALTH, DIGNITY AND WELL-BEING.  WATER IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE !  THE CONTINUED UNCONTROLLED USE MUST LEAD TO A CULTURE OF RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE OF: - Demographic upward trends - Extension of irrigation - Evolution of ways of life ( production & consumption)

HOW TO SATISFY INCREASING NEEDS ?  THERE ISN’T LESS WATER ON EARTH, BUT MORE HUMAN BEINGS AND INCRESED USE OF LIMITED RESSOUCES  THE UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMMES FOR ENVIRONMENT (UNPE) UNDERLINE THAT MORE THAN 2 BILLION PEOPLE DEPEND DIRECTLY ON GROUND WATER FOR THEIR WATER SUPPLY  SINCE 2008, HALF OF HUMANITY IS LIVING IN URBAN AREA.  ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, THE INCREASE FROM 2000 T IN TERMS OF CONSUMPTION SHOULD BE AROUND 20% FOR THE DOMESTIC NEEDS, 30% FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND 40 % FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES.

Health System Stewardship, Knowledge & Information Human resources The Rockefeller Foundation Oct 07

Some recommendations from the Re-Sources group (Unesco – Paris on Sept )  “Water and sanitation policies and programmes need to be prioritized in national development strategies though targeted action plans in urban and rural areas”.  “Public participation in policy and decision-making need to be ensured and greatly encouraged in water and sanitation programmes and projects. Public interests and the right to water and sanitation need to be respected”.  “Pollution of water resources need to be drastically reduced, though measures for pollution prevention at the source”.  “Water and sanitation services need to be affordable to all people, especially the poor communities”.  “Technological solutions such as wastewater recycling and reuse and seawater desalination need to be promoted to increase the availability of water in water scarce regions”.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT FOR A CHANGING WORLD?  THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN POOR COUNTRIES SHOULD BECOME A PRIORITY IN ORDER TO AVOID WIDENING DIPARITIES  BETTER EXPLOITATION OF WATER POTENTIEL  IMPROVE THE RULES OF WATER MANAGEMENT  MORE USE OF NETWORKING TO INCREASE COMPETENCIES  FOSTER DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE RECYCLING  BETTER UNDERSTAND FURTHER CLIMATE-RELATED PROCESSES THAT AFFECT WATER AND SANITATION RESSOURCES  PROMOTE A NEW GOVERNANCE BASED ON RESPONSIBILITY !

“ ONE HEALTH ” ?  Health systems are the essential platforms to deliver health services.  Building on a common pool of knowledge in physiology, pathology, epidemiology, etc.  No HEALTH without SAFE WATER AND SANITATION  WATER is the source of all the interdependencies for LIFE !  For the health of all, the leaders of the governments must make available the necessary means so that in 2020, water is no more a “ luxurious product ” for millions of people