The World Water Council is developing an approach to major water issues around the globe. Although members of the Watershed Management Council generally work at relatively small scales, we may gain some benefit from thinking about our work in a larger context. The WMC and its members have an opportunity to contribute to this effort. The following was excerpted from an article by Frank Rijsberman, deputy director of UNESCO's World Water Vision Unit, titled "A World Vision on Water for the 21st Century."
On the whole, however, the general public, is completely unaware of the seriousness of water issues. They know about events which hit the headlines such as the floods recently experienced in China, but little more. How many of your friends outside the water sector have any idea about the main water-related issues or how these might affect all of us in the coming 20-30 years? Today a great many people appear to be convinced of the urgency to do something about climate change issues but there are few champions to tackle water issues. Is the general public aware that a billion people do not have access to safe drinking water? That 3 billion people lack safe sanitation facilities? That IWMI [International Water Management Institute] forecasts that to feed the world in 20-30 years, the agriculture sector will need at least 17% more water than it needs today and that we don't know where it will come from?
A pre-condition for obtaining political commitment to tackle water issues is both a drastic increase in the general awareness of water issues and a consensus on the best way to obtain results. The World Water Vision currently being prepared with the support of UNESCO's IHP [International Hydrological Programme] aims to address precisely this pre-condition. It is essential to realise that we do have a choice in the kind of future we will have.
The World Water Council has established a World Commission on Water for the 21st Century. The main task of the Commission is to guide the development of the Long Term Vision on Water, Life and the Environment for the 21st Century (World Water Vision). The World Water Council's Vision project is meant to move us from where we are today to where we need to be tomorrow if we are to meet future water needs and ensure the sustainable use of water. The exercise involves a process of study, consultation and promotion which will:
Develop knowledge on what is happening in the world of water regionally and globally, and on trends and developments outside the world of water which may affect future water use; based on this knowledge, produce a consensus on a "Vision" for the year 2025 that is shared by water sector specialists and decision makers in government, the private sector and civil society;
Raise awareness of water issues among the general population and decision-makers in order to foster the political will and leadership necessary to achieve the Vision; and
Utilize the knowledge and support generated to provide input to the framework for action developed by the Global Water Partnership (GWP).
The World Water Vision is intended as a short, intensive process covering a period of 18 months only. Not a multi-year study programme, but rather an intensive consultation bringing together the many ongoing projects, players, stakeholders and professionals.
More information about the program can by found at the following web sites:
