Summary
News
- UNESCO-IHP and TheWaterChannel join forces
- Call for Abstracts: "The Management of the Guarani Aquifer System: An Example of Cooperation"
- Two Category II Centres link up for Kish International Water Law Training Project
- 25th ICID European Regional Conference - Deltas in Europe Integrated water management for multiple land use in flat coastal areas
- UNESCO workshop on "Addressing Water Quality Challenges in Africa" held in UN Headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya, 14-16 March
- Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference
Events
UNESCO Water Family (*)
- Check out UNESCO-IHE Short Courses!
- 2nd ISARM IGAD Meeting
Featured International Events
- 10th IWA Specialised Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems and 4th Conference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater International Network
- 21st International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), the 8th International Micro Irrigation Congress, and the 62nd ICID IEC Meeting
Did you know?
Facts and figures about water and demographic drivers
e-Newsletter archives
Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Visit the UNESCO Water Portal
News
UNESCO-IHP and TheWaterChannel join forces
For some time, UNESCO-IHP had been looking to create an online audiovisual platform to stimulate ideas and share more experiences from around the world. Rather than developing a new tool, UNESCO-IHP joined forces with TheWaterChannel, which was re-launched on World Water Day 2011. The newer version of the website boasts more content and is more user-friendly and interactive. This new edition was based on feedback given by users of the website.
We strongly encourage our readers to continue to give feedback and to expand the repository of movies that exist on TheWaterChannel to strengthen its content.
TheWaterChannel website
Call for Abstracts: "The Management of the Guarani Aquifer System: An Example of Cooperation"
.png)
21-23 September 2011, São Paulo
Deadline for Abstracts: 30 April 2011
In August 2010 Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, countries that share the Guarani Aquifer System (GAS), signed a new agreement for the management of this complex system. The four countries are now involved in the ratification process and in the negotiations of instititutional aspects, including discussions regarding an annex to the Agreement on arbitration procedures. Against this background, the management of the GAS can benefit from a debate about the steps that have been taken until now, and about the challenges that lay ahead. The conference "The Management of the Guarani Aquifer System: An Example of Cooperation" provides this opportunity and the organisers invite researchers, consultants and water management experts to submit an abstract for one of the three sessions of the conference:
- An assessment of the scientific knowledge on the GAS
- Current use and protection of the Guarani Aquifer System
- The GAS and regional cooperation
The conference contributes to the UNESCO ISARM (Internationally Shared Aquifers Resource Management) Programme Initiative and is supported by the Associacao Brasileira de Aguas Subterraneas, the Associacao Brasilerira de Recursos Hidricos, the Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia de Engenharia and the Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia.
More information
Two Category II Centres link up for Kish International Water Law Training Project
.jpg)
.jpg)
Two UNESCO Water Centres linked up from 10-14 April to deliver an important Joint Seminar and Workshop on International Water Law: Introduction to general principles of the international law governing transboundary freshwaters, with a focus on local regional issues. The training was delivered on the Iranian island of Kish in the Persian Gulf.
This collaboration, between the UNESCO Centres 'Regional Centre for Urban Water Management' (RCUWM), Iran, and 'IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science' Scotland, builds on the successful joint delivery in June 2010 of the International Law & Transboundary Freshwaters Symposium & Workshop held in Dundee, Scotland.
The two UNESCO Centres are proud to support the work of the Iranian Water Resources Company to accelerate the enhanced operational capacity of water resources management and delivery in Iran.
The primary objective of this International Water Law Workshop was to provide an overview of the law that governs the non-navigational uses of international watercourses, within the context of past and existing transboundary development and management issues between nation states. At the end of the Workshop, participants will have gained an insight into the basic principles of public international law, and be able to identify the legal issues and possible solutions for addressing international transboundary water problems. The workshop took a practical, case studies-based approach, and drew upon the resources of the IHP-HELP Centre's 'Water Law Water Leaders' summer programme, together with additional, region-specific content.
25th ICID European Regional Conference - Deltas in Europe Integrated water management for multiple land use in flat coastal areas
16-20 May 2011 Groningen, the Netherlands
Coastal areas are of strategic importance for integrated water management for multiple land use, such as food production, urban and industrial areas, recreation and nature conservation. In these geographical areas water management is related to flood risk management, land reclamation, rural reconstruction, salt water intrusion and habitat conservation. The institutional settings for water management are also important prerequisites for success. In Europe the complex requirements in order to comply with the various relevant EU Directives, notably the Water Frame Work Directive and the Flood Directive, have become an important policy issue. The European countries develop plans and programs to respond to the recent challenges to coastal and tidal management. How can they mutually benefit from various European, national and regional perspectives and views?
25th ICID European Regional Conference Program
The program offers a mix of keynote speeches, paper presentations, session workshops, excursions and debate panel sessions.
On Monday morning, keynote speeches will be delivered on the topic 'Vision & mission on Integrated water management for multiple land use in flat coastal areas'. The theme will be introduced by Prof. Madramootoo, President of ICID. On Tuesday morning, keynote speeches will focus on Finance & practice of Integrated water management for multiple land use in flat coastal areas.
The paper sessions are set up according to the specific conference subtopics:
- Multiple land-use
- Fresh water management and salt intrusion
- Flood risk management
- Institutional arrangements and history
Workshops & Creativity
Partners of this conference have prepared special sessions for Thursday afternoon to deepen insight in the theme and topics of this conference.
One of the special sessions will demonstrate a regional integrated planning project for water management, nature development, flood management and spatial rehabilitation. Other special sessions offer in-depth discussions on flood protection, emission-control programs in an agricultural area, water and education, and a comparative assessment of the vulnerability and resilience in ten deltas.
Panel discussion on Water and Food
The conference will be concluded on Friday with a panel discussion on the theme water and food, introduced with a speech of the Dutch under-minister of water management Mr. Atsma and three keynote speeches. The panel discussion provides ample opportunities to share views and develop policy perspectives on this urgent issue.
Contact: Mr. Bert Toussaint, (Chairman of organizing committee), Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Corporate Services, P.O. Box 2232, 3500 GE Utrecht, The Netherlands.
25th ICID European Regional Conference Website
UNESCO workshop on "Addressing Water Quality Challenges in Africa" held in UN Headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya, 14-16 March
.jpg "Nairobi Water Quality Workshop")
Nairobi Water Quality Workshop
The Secretariat of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme, jointly with UNESCO Regional Office in Africa, organized the UNESCO workshop on "Addressing Water Quality Challenges in Africa" at the UNON Headquarters Gigiri in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14-16 March 2011.
The workshop brought together 25 water experts, nominated by IHP National Committees from about 20 African countries and regional, sub-regional and basin organizations. The workshop participants included senior-level experts/officers from relevant Ministries, university researchers, selected upon nomination by respective IHP National Committees, and high-level representatives from sub-regional and basin organizations. Chairpersons of IHP National Committees of Senegal, Rwanda and Kenya also participated in the workshop.
Mr Joseph M. G. Massaquoi, Director of UNESCO Nairobi Office and the Regional Bureau for Science in Africa, delivered the opening address and welcomed the participants. Mr Juma Chrispine Omondi, Vice-Chairperson of IHP Intergovernmental Council for Group Va – Africa, attended the closing plenary session of the workshop and delivered the closure address, on behalf of African IHP National Committees.
The workshop was organized in the framework of the implementation of Focal Area 4.1 "Protecting water quality for sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation" of the 7th phase of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP-VII, 2008-2013) of UNESCO. The main goal of the workshop was to assist African countries in addressing water quality challenges for sustainable water resources management. The workshop aimed at identifying the critical problems related to water quality and water pollution, assessing their causes and trends and developing recommendations for solutions and strategies to tackle the water quality challenges in African countries. The regional focus of the workshop on Africa was aligned with the UNESCO’s overarching priority on Africa for 2008-2013.
The workshop brought together high-quality contributions, covering a wide range of topics and issues related to water quality in the African context and their linkages with other broader environmental, socioeconomic, health and development issues. The workshop received outstanding positive feedback from the participants. The process applied for the nomination and selection of workshop participants/experts was highly praised by the participants, who emphasized that this was one of the ways to help strengthen IHP National Committees in Africa and to ensure their active involvement in IHP activities. The workshop discussions recognized water quality as the most crucial water problem facing Africa and recommended that IHP activities in the area of water quality should be strengthened.
Workshop programme
Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference
.jpg)
September 13-16, 2011
Bozeman, Montana (USA)
The goal of the conference is to increase the knowledge and capacity of conference participants to effectively reach children and youth through education that leads to action in schools, communities and corporations.
Convened by the Project WET Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO-IHP and with the support of Nestle Waters and UN Habitat, the Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference will bring together 300-500 leaders in water resources education to discuss, debate and explore the following topics:
- Innovations in Water Education: How is water education being used in new and more effective ways in schools and communities?
- Successful Approaches to WASH Education: How are effective program models and innovative partnerships in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education resulting in behavior changes and local solutions?
- Technology & Water Education: What are ways that technology can be used to expand the scope and reach of water education and to assist in solving water issues?
- Encouraging Water Education in Corporate Sustainability: How are corporations using employee education and training to promote personal sustainability practices and business goals while helping employees effectively and credibly tell their company’s water and sustainability story through strategic interaction with schools, communities and other key local, national and global stakeholders? How can corporate giving support educational programs that lead to meaningful results and actions?
- Education Solutions for Priority Water Topics: What are the most successful methods for addressing the critical water challenges of the day, including risk (drought and floods), watersheds, ground water, water and health, storm water, integrated water resources management, weather and climate change, water and energy and water conservation?
Registration and additional information
Events
UNESCO Water Family (*)
Check out UNESCO-IHE Short Courses!
2nd ISARM IGAD Meeting
26-27 April 2011: Nairobi, Kenya
Featured International Events
10th IWA Specialised Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems and 4th Conference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater International Network
18-22 April 2011: Venice, Italy
21st International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), the 8th International Micro Irrigation Congress, and the 62nd ICID IEC Meeting
15-23 October 2011: Tehran, Iran
Access a complete list of water events around the world
Did you know...? Facts and figures about water and demographic drivers
- The world’s population is growing by about 80 million people a year, implying increased freshwater demand of about 64 billion cubic metres a year.
- An estimated 90% of the 3 billion people who are expected to be added to the population by 2050 will be in developing countries, many in regions where the current population does not have sustainable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
- Most population growth will occur in developing countries, mainly in regions that are already in water stress and in areas with limited access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.
- More than 60% of the world’s population growth between 2008 and 2100 will be in sub-Saharan Africa (32%) and South Asia (30%). Together, these regions are expected to account for half of world population in 2100.
- By 2050, 22% of the world’s population is expected to be 60 years old or older, up from 10% in 2005. At the same time, nearly half the world population is under the age of 25.
- Natural resource needs, including freshwater is expected to increase due to longer life expectances and globalization of trade and advertising tempting more consumption by young people in developed and developing countries.
- The urban population is expected to double between 2000 and 2030 in Africa and Asia. By 2030 the towns and cities of the developing world will make up an estimated 81% of urban humanity.
- By 2030 the number of urban dwellers is expected to be about 1.8 billion more than in 2005 and to constitute about 60% of the world’s population.
- Today, there are an estimated 192 million migrants worldwide, up from 176 million in 2000.
- Coastal areas, with 18 of the world’s 27 megacities (populations of 10 million or greater), are thought to face the largest migration pressures.
- About 75% of people residing in low-lying areas are in Asia, with the most vulnerable being poor people.
- The net implication of these demographic processes is clear; the world will have substantially more people in vulnerable urban and coastal areas in the next 20 years.
- 95% of the increase in urban populations is expected in developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia, where the urban population is projected to double between 2000 and 2030.
The section "Did You Know…?" is taken from the 3rd World Water Development Report "Water in a Changing World".
UNESCO's Water Family consists of the following:
- International Hydrological Programme
- World Water Assessment Programme
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Water-related Institutes and Centres under the Auspices of UNESCO
- UNESCO Water-related Chairs
Archives
Access the UNESCO Water e-Newsletter archives (starting at issue Nº 85)
Subscribe & Unsubscribe
For contributions or comments, contact the editor at waterportal@unesco.org
UNESCO.ORG
