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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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