First IPEMED water workshop in view of the World Water Forum 2012
As
part of its work on water issues in the Mediterranean and in view of the
forthcoming World Water Forum to be held in Marseille in March 2012, the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Mediterranean World (IPEMED) organized a first water workshop in
The initiative launched by IPEMED builds a new approach
that offers the
Regarding the first proposal, the idea of developing a tool capable of gathering and sharing across the Mediterranean basin of water information received the approval of most participants. This mechanism already exists in large part with the EMWIS (Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector) but can not be considered now as a true resource center. Greater coordination of data collection and access to the largest number among the main expectations of the Centre. Several participants expressed their wish that this new structure is not limited to the mobilization of knowledge, but is interdisciplinary. Training, research and development, the prospective transfer of know-how, etc ... are all areas in which the Centre could develop and pool the expertise of existing institutes, relying in particular on the network heads.
The idea of creating a Mediterranean Water Agency must be studied more thoroughly. It could be based on the branch network of the Mediterranean basin (MENBO) and set common guidelines for the management of water, promote the exchange of experiences between each basin agency, fund structures and encourage setting up meetings bringing together all stakeholders throughout a watershed (such as river basin committees). Particularly in the context of these forums that civil society could be expressed. The growing civil society role was particularly emphasized by much of the audience.
The missions entrusted to the regional agency, however, remain yet to be determined and all the participants agreed that it should not be a new structure devoid of responsibility. Because it acts effectively for integrated management of water resources at regional level, choices must be made on the field of expertise (governance, finance, crisis management, planning, pricing ...). Political obstacles could also face the creation of a new supranational structure.
The rule at the regional management of
water resources by watershed, although it is recognized in many countries of
the southern
All these questions, however, must be linked with the small
progress made by regional states in common water. If negotiations
are blocked at the level of governments, water professionals that work daily at
the local level should be further mobilized. The value of
their mutual experience seems a way to go to advance the Mediterranean Strategy
for water and concrete regional projects. A second workshop
should be held in September in Porto (
Contact information | n/a |
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News type | Inbrief |
File link |
http://www.ipemed.coop/spip.php?article910 |
Source of information | The Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Mediterranean World (IPEMED) |
Keyword(s) | water demand management, water supply management |
Subject(s) | DRINKING WATER , DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION : COMMON PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION AND TREATMENT , INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION , METHTODOLOGY - STATISTICS - DECISION AID , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , PREVENTION AND NUISANCES POLLUTION , RISKS AND CLIMATOLOGY , SANITATION -STRICT PURIFICATION PROCESSES , WATER DEMAND , WATER QUALITY |
Geographical coverage | France, |
News date | 25/07/2011 |
Working language(s) | FRENCH |