Run-up to UN Water Conference

Run-up to UN Water Conference

Subject :Environment

Section: International Environmental Conventions

Context: Expansion of bottled water industry works against achieving the Sustaianable Development Goal to supply safe drinking water to all by affecting investments.

More on the News:

• The rapidly growing bottled water industry is helping mask a crippling world problem: the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all, a review report published in the run-up to the United Nations 2023 Water Conference next week.
• Supply of reliable drinking water is a key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. But, the expansion of the bottled water industry works against achieving it or at slowing progress towards it.
• This, it does by adversely affecting investments and the role of the state in long-term public water supply infrastructure development and improvement, according to Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends.
• The UN conference in New York City from March 22-24 is likely to raise awareness on global water crisis and decide on concerted action to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets.

Findings in the report:

• Half of what the world pays for bottled water annually at present would pay to provide clean and long-term public water supply for hundreds of millions of people without it.
• The report has mapped and ranked the top 50 countries in the world by total and per capita bottled water sales both in dollars and litres.
• The Asia-Pacific region constitutes about half of the global bottled water market, and the Global South countries together make up about 60 per cent.
• The report noted that like many other industries, the bottled water industry was a high consumer of water. The main source of water that is bottled across the globe is groundwater.
• Groundwater is a precious resource with over two billion worldwide relying on it as their primary water source. The report noted that in certain areas, the amount of groundwater extracted exceeded the amount that was recharged naturally.

United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH):

• UNU-INWEH is a research and training institute established in 1996 to address global water and environmental challenges. It is hosted at McMaster University in Canada and operates under the auspices of the United Nations University, which is a global network of research and training centers focused on sustainable development.
• Funding: UNU-INWEH is funded by a combination of government contributions, philanthropic donations, and research grants. Its work is supported by a range of international organizations, foundations, and academic institutions.
• UNU-INWEH employs a team of researchers, technicians, and support staff from around the world. Its staff includes experts in fields such as hydrology, environmental engineering, public health, and social sciences.
• UNU-INWEH works closely with a range of partners, including other United Nations agencies, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. It is also a member of several global networks focused on water and environmental issues.
• UNU-INWEH produces a range of publications, including research reports, policy briefs, and academic articles. It also hosts a series of webinars and other events to share its research findings and engage with stakeholders.
• Some key areas of research and expertise at UNU-INWEH include:
  • Water security: UNU-INWEH works to promote sustainable and equitable management of water resources, particularly in developing countries where water scarcity and poor water quality are major challenges.
  • Environmental health: UNU-INWEH studies the impacts of environmental factors, such as air and water pollution, on human health and wellbeing. It also explores the links between environmental health and social and economic development.
  • Ecosystem services: UNU-INWEH investigates the ways in which ecosystems provide benefits to human societies, such as clean water, food, and climate regulation. It also explores strategies for sustainable management of these services.
  • Climate change adaptation: UNU-INWEH works to promote resilience to climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable communities and regions.

UN Water

• UN-Water is the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues.
• It was established in 2003 with the aim of strengthening coordination and cooperation among UN agencies and other international organizations working on water and sanitation issues
• UN-Water has 32 UN agency members and 41 international partners. It is chaired by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and has a secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• UN-Water works closely with a range of partners, including governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. It also collaborates with other UN initiatives and programs, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
• UN-Water aims to promote coherence and collaboration among UN agencies and other organizations working on water and sanitation issues. It also seeks to enhance policy dialogue, advocacy, and knowledge management in this area.
• UN-Water’s priorities include achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, promoting integrated water resources management, improving water governance, and building resilience to water-related disasters and climate change.
• UN-Water carries out a range of activities, including supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation, coordinating UN-wide activities on World Water Day, and producing reports and assessments on water-related issues.
• UN-Water produces a range of reports and assessments on water-related issues, such as the World Water Development Report, the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report, and the Integrated Monitoring Report for SDG 6.
• UN-Water has launched a number of initiatives aimed at addressing specific water-related challenges, such as the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the United Nations International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015.

UN Water Conference:

• The Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands, will feature an opening and closing ceremony, six plenary meetings and five multi-stakeholder interactive dialogues. It will also feature a number of high-level special events and side events organized by Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders.
• The outcome of the Conference will be a summary of the Conference proceedings and new commitments, pledges and actions by Governments and all stakeholders towards achieving SDG 6 and other water-related goals and targets, compiled in the Water Action Agenda.
• The UN 2023 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda will unite the world for water. The key building blocks of the Water Action Agenda are:
  • commitment to action
  • sustained and scalable implementation
  • follow-up and review processes