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Water Scarce Ecosystems

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Title: Water Scarce Ecosystems


1
Water Scarce Ecosystems
  • A proposal for a UNCCD Policy Framework
  • May 04 2009

2
BackgroundAnthropogenic actions put additional
pressure to Water Scarcity
  • Water Scarcity is,
  • the long-term imbalance resulting from
    increased demand for water exceeding the
    available supply
  • Anthropogenic pressures have reduced water supply
  • This is a social, economic and environmental issue

3
Water Scarcity results in Environmental and
Social Impacts
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Land degradation
  • Epidemics
  • Social Impacts
  • Forced migration
  • Armed conflicts
  • Poverty

4
Water Cycle as central element of feedback
reinforcing cycles
  • Water Scarcity is closely linked to Climate
    Change phenomena, Land Degradation and
    Biodiversity Loss.
  • Water Cycle is at the heart of the 3 Conventions
  • UNFCCC
  • CBD
  • UNCCD

5
Making the CaseThere is No universal
instrument of Targets / Plans to address Water
Scarcity
  • The responsibility to manage water efficiently
    and equitably STILL DEPENDS on individual
    countries and on basin agreements

6
Some Examples of Current Activities indirectly
addressing Water Scarcity
  • UNFCCC Current discussions on Post-Kyoto 2012
    could be an opportunity
  • UNHCR currently does not favor a refugee status
    of climate displaced people however this type
    of migration represents a cost resulting from
    water scarcity
  • etc

7
Drivers behind UNCCD action plan
  • Article 2 of the UNCCD
  • Article 4 of the UNCCD
  • The 10 YSP
  • Populations are fully dependant on rain-fed
    agriculture 33 TO 41 (DEPENDING ON SOURCES) OF
    Earth surface is drylands, and 2 billion people
    living there
  • Populations are already taking action to mitigate
    the effects of drought
  • Impacts on food security are direct

8
Calling for ActionUNCCD Leadership Intervention
and Policy Coherence
  • Water Scarcity is a Universal Problem
  • UNCCD is well positioned to take leadership role
    in bringing negotiations to forefront
  • UNCCD 3-step process for a policy on water
    scarcity
  • 10YSP (Madrid Sep. 2007)
  • CRIC7 (Istanbul Nov. 2008) and
  • COP9 (Buenos Aires Sep. 2009)

9
Developing a Policy Framework
  • Addressing Water Scarcity requires
  • International Policy Coordination
  • A policy is a line of argument rationalizing the
    course of action of government intervention
  • 6 operational action to develop a Water Scarcity
    Policy
  • (a)Creating Common Values and Priorities
  • (b)Promoting Cooperation between Nation States
  • (c) Coordination process and institutions
  • (d) Knowledge Transfer/Education/Capacity
    building
  • (e)Funding
  • (f) Public relations and awareness building

10
The UNCCD Water Scarcity Policy Framework
  • AIM To develop a multi-lateral agreement
    at global scale creating synergies
  • (a) To Create Common Values and Priorities
  • Sensitizing individuals
  • Bring issues of water scarcity to the attention
    of the International Community
  • Network/Establish and seek formal relations with
    CBD, UNFCCC and UN Water.

11
The UNCCD Water Scarcity Policy Framework
  • (b) Promoting Cooperation among countries
  • Identify and realise an inventory of all relevant
    existing local/watershed regional initiatives
  • Survey, analyse information on integrated water
    scarcity adaptation (e.g. NAPs/NAPAs) in order to
    establish new synergies from national and
    international sources
  • South-south cooperation fostered

12
The UNCCD Water Scarcity Policy Framework
  • (c) Coordination Process and Institutions
  • Promote Dialogue for an internationally agreed
    definition indicator of Water Scarcity that
    will enable
  • Common Understanding
  • Address Quantifiable and legally binding targets
    at global level
  • (d) Knowledge/Transfer Education and Capacity
    Building

13
The UNCCD Water Scarcity Policy Framework
  • (e) Funding
  • Concentrate funds in most vulnerable areas
  • Mobilization of resources climate change
    related, carbon markets
  • Pro-water economic / public policies

14
The UNCCD Water Scarcity
  • (f) Public relations and awareness building
  • Strengthen support from international partners
  • At G8 or G20 Summits
  • Enhance formal relations with UNCCD UN Water
  • Enhance formal relations with CBD and UNFCCC
  • NGOs and local communities

15
The right to water
  • Linking water as a food source (right to food)
    and water as a common good (right to water) is
    essential for the sustainable development of all
    living species.
  • The universal right to water is already partially
    recognized as implicit part of universal human
    rights, by an adjustment to food and health
    rights, particularly with specific references to
    women and children.
  • The United Nations bodies dealing with Human
    Rights, as well as laws at national and local
    level, recognized the right to water as an
    implicit content of some other human rights.
  • The right to water is taken into account in a
    large number of international conferences,
    documents, declarations or in other legal and
    political instruments. Yet it is recognized by
    less than 10 national Constitutions under
    different perspectives, as well as by law in a
    lot of other Countries.
  • The right to water could be implemented at
    watershed level.

16
Special elements for the Policy Proposal on
water scarcity
  • Global Policy Frameworks, should ideally have
    strong political will and enforcement (or
    self-enforcement) mechanisms to enable a long
    term sustainable and cooperative policy.
  • Fostering water scarce indicators such as soil
    moisture or Water Use Index. The issue of
    baselines still need to be further considered.
  • Key aspect of the forthcoming UNCCD policy on
    water scarcity The recognition of the
    significant impact that women play in mitigating
    water scarcity, especially in most vulnerable
    regions.

17
  • THANK YOU
  • Policy proposal can be found at
  • WWW.UNCCD.INT
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