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A global goal on Water and Sanitation management proposed by the High-Level Panel on the post-2015 Development agenda
Private Water Operators welcome the proposal for a Global Objective for the improvement of water and sanitation management.
This objective will encourage governments to make greater efforts to meet the needs of the billions of people who do not enjoy satisfactory services and at the same time promote economic development and protect ecosystems.
The High-Level Panel, charged by the UN Secretary General to prepare recommendations for development objectives in the post-2015 development programme, has just completed its work and has published its recommendations for the period 2015 to 2030.
Private Water Operators congratulate the panel on the choice of objectives which will contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development. The panel’s proposals should facilitate the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, when the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set in 2000, will expire.
The operators welcome the importance given by the panel to the resolution of growing challenges linked to water and sanitation. Among the 12 Global Objectives proposed, the panel recommends a dedicated Objective for the improvement of water management. In addition, it suggests that certain other Global Objectives take specific water related issues into account in their formulation. (In particular, developing irrigation is targeted to achieve the Objective #5 on food security).
Private water operators are very hopeful that the United Nations will adopt the proposition for a Global Objective for Water Management that will focus on the important questions of:
- universal access to drinking water that is truly safe and to sanitation that includes safe and dignified toilets,
- efficient management of water resources to satisfy all needs sustainably,
- collection and de-pollution of water after it has been used for industrial and domestic purposes.
These three important subjects were identified by AquaFed as major challenges at the global level in its contribution to the Rio +20 summit. (AquaFed contribution to Rio +20)
The same issues were also given prominence by business at Rio. (Business Action for Sustainable Development, contribution to Rio +20 compilation document, section J, pgs 37 to 41)
They are also the ones that received strong public support in the global online public consultation organised by the United Nations between November 2012 and March 2013. (See: "High Level Forum Outcome Statement 22 March 2013")
Gerard Payen, President of AquaFed said: “Adoption in 2015 of this global objective for water management with the corresponding specific targets and indicators will encourage countries to face up to the water challenges and define more ambitious policies for their water and wastewater management. It promises to improve the living conditions of 2 billion people, who only have access to water that is not safe to drink and dangerous for their health, to satisfy sustainably the growing water needs of expanding populations, the economy and agriculture, while at the same time protecting ecosystems and stopping the creeping menace of pollution from human activities being discharged into the environment without any appropriate treatment measures." (note: It is estimated that 80% of water used by people and industry throughout the world are discharged to watercourses and the sea without any treatment to remove pollution.)
Full text of
the Global objective for the improvement of water management:
The
report proposes “12 Universal Goals” and national targets: amongst them Goal #
6. Achieve Universal Access to Water and Sanitation, which contains 4
targets:
6a. Provide universal access to safe drinking water at home, and
in schools, health centers, and refugee camps
6b. End open defecation and
ensure universal access to sanitation at school and work, and increase access to
sanitation at home by x%
6c. Bring freshwater withdrawals in line with supply
and increase water efficiency in agriculture by x%, industry by y% and urban
areas by z%
6d. Recycle or treat all municipal and industrial wastewater
prior to discharge
Further Resources:
- the report of the high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda: www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf
- AquaFed Press Release: EN, FR
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AquaFed
is the International Federation of Private Water Operators. Open to companies
and associations of companies
of all sizes and from all countries, it aims to contribute to solving water
challenges by making Private Sector
know-how and experience available to the international community. It brings
together more than 300 water companies
that serve hundreds of millions of people in 40 countries. Members of the
Federation participate actively
in the improvement of water and sanitation services, thus contributing to make
the human right to safe drinking
water and sanitation effective for people. For
many years, the Federation has warned of the underestimation of people’s needs
for safe water and sanitation
(including access to toilets, collection of water after use, wastewater
treatment and storm-water management)
and has alerted on the absence of any UN policy on pollution discharged by human
activities into water
. For many years through their International Federation, private water operators
have advocated for more ambitious
water and sanitation policies.
| Contact information |
Thomas Van Waeyenberge Head of the Brussels Office AquaFed – The International Federation of Private Water Operators AquaFed is an NGO in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC 6 rond Point Schuman, B1040 Brussels – Belgium
(email: Thomas@AquaFed.org) Phone: +322347807 ¤ M : +32479237826 |
|---|---|
| News type | Inbrief |
| File link |
http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf |
| File link local |
|
| Source of information | AquaFed |
| Subject(s) | DRINKING WATER , DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION : COMMON PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION AND TREATMENT , FINANCE-ECONOMY , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT |
| Geographical coverage | n/a |
| News date | 31/05/2013 |
| Working language(s) | ENGLISH |
