United Nations releases World Water Development Report 2020: Water and Climate Change
The United Nations Water (UN Water) released the 2020 edition of the World Water Development Report under the topic ‘Water and Climate Change’, following the World Water Day’s observance on the 22nd of March, 2020.
The goal of the report, according to UN Water, is to help the water community to tackle the challenges of climate change and inform the climate change community about how improved water management offers opportunities for adaptation and mitigation.
The report stresses that climate change will affect water needed for basic human needs. The affect on the availability, quality, and quantity of water will weaken the access of billions of people to their basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
As climate change can alter the water cycle, energy production, food security, human health, economic development, and poverty reduction will be at risk, jeopardizing the goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, a UN blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
To Access the UN World Water Development Report 2020: Water and Climate Change, click here. For a summary of the main messages, click here.
UN World Water Development Report 2019: Leaving No One Behind is now available !
The UNESCO has just released the UN World Water Development Report 2019: Leaving No One Behind. This new edition focuses on the possible improvement in water resources management and access to water supply and sanitation services to overcome poverty and fill in the gap of the other inequities. This report in a source of information for the decision-makers in the water community and beyond to make concrete a water smart society and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Take a look at the event agenda here
Join us to debate on this report on the 3rd of April at the European Parliament at 4.30. Places are limited, so register here
UN World Water Development Report : https://en.unesco.org/water-security/wwap/wwdr/2019#download
News on the MEP Water Group – UNESCO event at the EU Parliament: https://mepwatergroup.eu/public-session-on-the-un-world-water-development-report-2019-leaving-no-one-behind/
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Public Session on the UN World Water Development Report 2019: Leaving no one behind
Date: 3rd of April
Schedule: 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm,
Location: European Parliament, room JAN 6 Q 2.
The MEP Water Group and the World Water Assessment Programme of UNESCO are co-organising a public session on the new UN World Water Development Report: “Leaving no one behind: sustainable water management and governance from a European perspective”. The event will take place on the 3rd of April from 16h30 to 18h30 at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The 2019 edition of the UN World Water Development Report seeks to inform policy and decision-makers, inside and outside the water community, how improved water resources management and access to safe water and sanitation for all is essential for eradicating poverty, building peaceful and prosperous societies, and ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’ on the path towards sustainable development.
Access to safe, affordable and reliable drinking water and sanitation services are basic human rights, as they are indispensable to sustaining healthy livelihoods and maintaining people’s dignity. Sustainable Development Goal 6 is crystal clear: water for all by 2030. By definition, this means leaving no one behind.
Exclusion, discrimination, entrenched power asymmetries, poverty and material inequalities are among the main obstacles to fulfilling the human rights to water and sanitation and achieving the water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The main policy messages and findings from the report will be presented during the public session, followed by a high-level panel discussion.
We have the pleasure to confirm the participation of:
- Paul Rübig, Member of the EPP Group and MEP Water Group
- Louise Haxthausen, UNESCO Representative to European Institutions
- Stefan Uhlenbrook, Coordinator and Director, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)
- Veronica Manfredi, Director for Quality of Life (Air & Water Quality, Marine Environment, Industrial Emissions & Safety), DG Environment
- Mariëlle van der Zouwen, Manager Knowledge Management Group, KWR Water Cycle Research Institute
- Hans Goossens, CEO, De Watergroep
- Cynthia Bleu-Laine, Africa Programme Manager, Water Lex
- Raluca Anghel, Spokesperson, Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union
Download the event programme HERE
For more information, please contact Anca Popa
Download the Executive Summary of the report here
Click HERE to register
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MEP Water Group Public session on ‘Water Reuse – an effective tool to address water scarcity’
In collaboration with the EU Maltese presidency, the MEP Water Group convened a successful public session on ‘Water Reuse – an effective tool to address water scarcity‘ on the 7th of March at the European Parliament. The session was chaired by Esther de Lange, President of the MEP Water Group and hosted five high-level panellists, who presented their own perspectives on why water-reuse is a valuable solution to address water scarcity, adaptation to climate change and implement circular economy.
With Malta being the EU member state with the lowest rate of water availability and highest population density rate, Mr Azzopardi, from the office of the Malta Prime Minister and CEO of the Energy and Water Agency stressed out that water reuse, is nowadays a necessary and a key element in Malta’s 2nd River Basin Management Plan (RBMP). He, also, pointed out that advances in technologies are required to effectively develop comprehensive and cost-effective solutions, as well as that support to R&D activities for the development of marketable solutions, together with EU initiatives regulating water reuse, are key elements to ensure investments in the water reuse sector.
Ms Doeser, Head of Unit from DG ENVI indicated that the new water reuse directive will aim at preventing uneven regulations from Members States that can create barriers to the market and will introduce a minimum standard at EU level which will ensure that safety and health requirements are met.
In fact, “Water reuse is not anymore an alternative supply but the water supply”, continued Mr Gawlik from the EC Joint Research Centre JRC, showing worrying EU maps on water shortage. The water industry “is well aware of the situation and is willing to work closely together with agriculture” ensured Arjan Boogaards from Nalco Water. Mr Van Houtte from IWVA noted that water-reuse is both economically and technically feasible and a solution for water scarcity, as it grants results in sustainable groundwater management and enhances ecosystems. As the last speaker of the session, MEP Dr. Paul Rübig from the EPP Group reminded the audience the importance of fostering investments at the water reuse sector and delivering results at a European level.
Before the closure of the panel session, Esther de Lange and Arjan Boogaards emphasised that water reuse would lead to a major community impact, as minimisation of water allows minimisation of energy and waste and therefore reduction of costs. So, it is actually a win-win-win situation. The panel discussion was followed by Q&A from the audience.
Download the presentations of the session
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