2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation

2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation

 Introduction

United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation vide its Resolution A/RES/65/154. Water is the very basis of life and is the foundation for human survival and development. Sustainable and equitable use of water over millennia has been ensured by cultural adaptation to water availability through water conservation technologies, agricultural systems and cropping patterns adapted to different climatic zones, and conservation-based lifestyles. But in the last few decades the consequences of population growth, industrialization and urbanization, and the associated consumerist culture, have interfered with the natural hydrological cycle of rainfall, soil moisture, groundwater, surface water and storage of all sizes. This has led to overuse, abuse and pollution of our vital water resources and has disturbed the quality and the natural cleansing capacity of water. This has resulted in an urgent need to recognize the threatening consequences of water scarcity, minimizing the negative impacts of the overuse and misuse of water and to ensure that our precious water resources are used optimally in removing poverty and achieving economic and human development. It is in recognition of these compelling situations that United Nations has passed this resolution.

The slogan “Water Water Everywhere only if we share” sums up the significance of the need for water cooperation. The UN also has proclaimed the decade 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”. It is in recognition of this that the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Government of India has chosen the topic “Water Cooperation: Issues and Challenges” for this year’s National Science Seminar. Children from across the country have deliberated on this topic at different levels on the urgent need for water cooperation among different stake holders across the globe and have expressed their opinion on this subject. 35 students, the respective winners of all the 35 states and union territories of India will be participating at the National Science Seminar on 8^th October at Nehru Science Centre Mumbai.

On 20^th December 2010 the United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, following a proposal by Tajikistan. World Water Day, celebrated each year on 22 March, will be dedicated to the same theme. UNESCO was appointed by UN-Water to coordinate the Year and Day in view of the Organization’s multi-dimensional mandate in the natural and social sciences, culture, education and communication and its long-standing involvement in programmes contributing to the sustainable management of the world’s freshwater resources. National Council of Science Museums too has joined various national and international bodies in organizing events, activities and programmes to sensitize the citizens of India on this all important topic, which is the need of the hour for all of us. National Science Seminar is one of the most important activities that NCSM is organizing for the school students to create awareness on this topic for students across India.

Diverse activities around the world, including the National Science Seminar that National Council of Science Museums is organizing, will help raise awareness of the potential of and challenges to water cooperation, facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, and promote innovative solutions. World Water Day on 22 March 2013, also on the theme of water cooperation, was one of the key events of the Year, on the occasion of which all the science centres across the country under the National Council of Science Museums, have organized series of events activities and programmes to promote the significance of the World Water Day. UNESCO is leading the coordination of the activities, with support from UNECE, UNDESA, UNW-DPC, and UNW-DPAC, on behalf of UN-Water, and is  encouraging stakeholders at international, regional, national and local levels to take action on water cooperation so as to create a momentum that goes beyond the year itself.

 Water cooperation

Our planet Earth, also known as the Blue Planet, is unique in the unending cosmos that we inhabit. What sets us apart from the rest of the universe is the life providing substance, water that is abundantly available on our planet. Water is vital for life, pivotal for human development and necessary to keep our environment healthy. It knows no borders. For instance, 148 countries share at least one transboundary river basin. There is a fixed amount of water on the planet and with increasing population, economic development and changing lifestyles, undue pressure has been put on the world’s limited water resources leading to increased competition for water and creating situations of potential conflict. But water can be used as an instrument of peace and development as every action involving water management requires effective cooperation between multiple actors whether at the local or international scale. As rapid urbanization, climate change and growing food needs put ever-increasing pressure on freshwater resources; the objective of the Year is to draw attention to the benefits of cooperation in water management. It will serve to highlight successful examples of water cooperation and explore key issues, including water diplomacy, transboundary water management and financial cooperation.

Contrary to common belief, good examples of water cooperation greatly outshine water-related conflicts. The Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 has survived three major conflicts and is still in force today. The potential for water cooperation is great and its benefits, whether in economic, social or environmental terms, are considerable. All water systems are extremely complex, be they management systems at the local or national level, internationally shared river basins or parts of the natural hydrological cycle. Managing these systems requires multiple actors, from users and managers to experts from various disciplines and decision-makers.

Cooperation is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable and equitable distribution of water but also to foster and maintain peaceful relations within and among communities. At the government level, different ministries can cooperate and mainstream awareness of water management into other sectors; at the community level users can cooperate through water users’ associations; at the transboundary level joint management institutions can help to distribute and protect shared resources; and at the international level, the various UN agencies can work together to promote the sustainable management of water worldwide. Cooperation mechanisms vary in terms of decision-making structures, levels of participation, and rules and regulations. They can take the form of informal agreements or formal institutions, and they range from a simple exchange of information to joint management mechanisms.

To ensure the efficacy of the objective of sensitizing the world on this all-important topic the mandate for achieving this was bestowed on the UN – Water Agency. UN-Water is the inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater and sanitation-related issues. Based on a history of close collaboration among UN agencies it was established in 2003 by the UN High Level Committee on Programmes. UN-Water aims to foster greater cooperation and information sharing among its 31 UN Members and 27 other international partners. UN-Water monitors and reports progress towards global objectives related to water, for example through the World Water Development Report (WWDR), and organizes the annual World Water Day on 22 March. UN-Water has called upon UNESCO to lead the 2013 United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, in view of the Organization’s mandate to pursue the goals of peace and sustainable development and its multi-dimensional mandate in the natural and social sciences, culture, education, and communication and its significant and longstanding programmes contributing to the management of the world’s freshwater resources.

Cooperation in sharing of River waters.

Rivers cross political boundaries and international cooperation is necessary to share the water resources of a transboundary river basin between upstream and downstream users with different and sometimes conflicting needs, claims, and cultures. Even in our country we constantly read about the conflicts between two riparian states when it comes to sharing and cooperating in water use from the Rivers that cuts across states. Tensions rise high when water becomes scarce as can be seen in the agitations that people resort to in addressing water sharing the examples of which in India are seen and exemplified in the mass agitation sometimes resulting in human loss of lives while addressing issues of Cauvery water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nādu. Such a situation exists all across the country.  Countries also need to cooperate on the sharing of transboundary groundwater, an important and increasing source of freshwater. If any of the people involved in water management do not cooperate, the ‘cooperation chain’ is broken and water resources will not be managed in the most effective way, with adverse effects on human lives and the economy. When water resources are cooperatively shared and managed, peace, prosperity, and sustainable development are more likely to be achieved.

 Water cooperation is central to security, poverty eradication, social equity and gender equality

Inclusive and participatory governance of water and cooperation between different user groups can help to overcome inequity in access to water, enhance water security and overcome water scarcity and thus contribute to poverty eradication and to improving living conditions and educational opportunities, especially for women and children. Water cooperation is very effective in generating economic benefits for society. All economic activities depend on water. Cooperation can lead to a more efficient and sustainable use of water resources, including through joint management plans creating mutual benefits and better living standards. Water cooperation is also crucial to preserve water resources and in protecting the environment, which is now a key issue for our planet. Water cooperation supports the sharing of knowledge concerning the scientific aspects of water including data and information exchange, management strategies and best practices and knowledge about the role of water in preserving ecosystems, fundamental to human wellbeing and sustainable development.

Planning and implementation of water resources projects is central to betterment of human society. It involves a number of socio-economic aspects and issues such as environmental sustainability, appropriate resettlement and rehabilitation of project-affected people and livestock, public health concerns of water impoundment, dam safety etc. Common approaches and guidelines are necessary on these matters. Moreover, certain problems and weaknesses have affected a large number of water resources projects. There have been substantial time and cost overruns on projects. Problems of water logging and soil salinity have emerged in some irrigation commands, leading to the degradation of agricultural land. Complex issues of equity and social justice in regard to water distribution are required to be addressed. The development and overexploitation of groundwater resources have raised the concern and need for judicious and scientific resource management and conservation. All these concerns need to be addressed on the basis of common policies and strategies for ensuring inclusive development and betterment of human society.

 Water cooperation builds peace

Water management and access to the source of water can be a major source of a conflict, but it is also a catalyst for cooperation and peace building. Cooperation on such a practical and vital issue as water management can help overcome cultural, political and social tensions, and can build trust between different groups, communities, regions or states. The best example of this can be seen in the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan.

Facts and figures related to water

It is estimated that 85% of the world population lives in the driest half of the planet. An estimated 780 million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation. Six to eight million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases mostly in under developed and developing countries.  Various estimates indicate that, based on business as usual, close to 3.5 planet Earths would be needed to sustain a global population achieving the current lifestyle of the average European or North American. Global population growth projections of 2–3 billion people over the next 40 years, combined with changing diets, result in a predicted increase in food demand of 70% by 2050. Over half of the world population lives in urban areas, and the number of urban dwellers grows each day. Urban areas, although better served than rural areas, are struggling to keep up with population growth.

The expected rate at which the population is now increasing, the food demand is predicted to increase by 50% by 2030. At the same rate of increase in population the food demand is expected to rise by 70% by the year 2050. At the same time the energy demand from hydropower and other renewable energy resources will rise by 60%.  The exponential increase in population and the demand of increased food are interconnected.  For removing the hunger of people one needs to increase the agricultural output, which will directly lead to substantially increasing both water and energy consumption, leading to increased competition for water between water-using sectors. Water availability is expected to decrease in many regions. Yet future global agricultural water consumption alone is estimated to increase by over 19% by 2050, and will be even greater in the absence of any technological progress or policy intervention.

Water for irrigation and food production constitutes one of the greatest pressures on freshwater resources. Agriculture accounts for close to 70% of global freshwater withdrawals (up to 90% in some fast-growing economies). Shifting diets from predominantly starch-based to meat and dairy require more water. Producing 1 kg of rice, for example, requires roughly 3,500 Litres of water, 1 kg of beef 15,000 L. This dietary shift is the greatest to impact on water consumption over the past 30 years, and is likely to continue well into the middle of the twenty-first century.

The impact of climate change

The IPCC predicts that water stress will increase in central and southern Europe, and that by the 2070s, the number of people affected will rise from 28 to 44 million. Summer flows are likely to drop by up to 80% in southern Europe and some parts of central and Eastern Europe. The cost of adapting to the impacts of a 2°C rise in global average temperature could range from US$70 to $100 billion per year between 2020 and 2050 (World Bank, 2010). Of this cost, between US$13.7 billion (drier scenario) and $19.2 billion (wetter scenario) will be related to water, predominantly through water supply and flood management.

A resource without borders

Water is not confined to political borders. An estimated 148 states have international basins within their territory. There are 276 transboundary river basins in the world (64 transboundary river basins in Africa, 60 in Asia, 68 in Europe, 46 in North America and 38 in South America). One hundred eighty-five out of the 276 transboundary river basins, about two-thirds, are shared by two countries. 256 are shared by 2, 3 or 4 countries (92.7%), and 20 are shared by five or more countries (7.2%), the maximum being 18 countries sharing a same transboundary river basin (Danube). The Russian Federation shares 30 transboundary river basins with riparian countries, Chile and United States 19, Argentina and China 18, Canada 15, Guinea 14, Guatemala 13, and France ten.

Africa has about one-third of the world’s major international water basins. Virtually all sub-Saharan African countries, as well as Egypt, share at least one international water basin. Depending on how they are counted, there are between 63 (UNEP, 2010) and 80 (UNECA, 2000) transboundary river and lake basins on the African continent. Most rich nations are maintaining or increasing their consumption of natural resources (WWF, 2010), but are exporting their footprints to producer, and typically, poorer, nations.  European and North American populations consume a considerable amount of virtual water embedded in imported food and products. Each person in North America and Europe (excluding former Soviet Union countries) consumes at least 3 m³ per day of virtual water in imported food, compared to 1.4 m³ per day in Asia and 1.1 m­­³ per day in Africa (Zimmer and Renault). Land grabbing is another increasingly common phenomenon. Saudi Arabia, one of the Middle East’s largest cereal growers, announced it would cut cereal production by 12% a year to reduce the unsustainable use of groundwater. To protect its water and food security, the Saudi government issued incentives to Saudi corporations to lease large tracts of land in Africa for agricultural production. By investing in Africa to produce its staple crops, Saudi Arabia is saving the equivalent of hundreds of millions of gallons of water per year and reducing the rate of depletion of its fossil aquifers. Nearly all Arab countries suffer from water scarcity. An estimated 66% of the Arab region’s available surface freshwater originates outside the region.

Pollution knows no borders either. Up to 90% of wastewater in developing countries flows untreated into rivers, lakes and highly productive coastal zones, threatening health, food security and access to safe drinking and bathing water. Eighty-five percent of used water worldwide is not collected or treated, in developing countries.

Cooperation, a contrasted reality

There are numerous examples where transboundary waters have proved to be a source of cooperation. Nearly 450 agreements on international waters were signed between 1820 and 2007 (OSU, 2007). Over 90 international water agreements were drawn up to help manage shared water basins on the African continent (UNEP, 2010). Yet 60% of the world’s 276 international river basins lack any type of cooperative management framework (De Stefano et al., 2010). UN-Water conducted a global survey in 2011 to determine progress towards sustainable management of water resources using integrated approaches. Preliminary findings from the analysis of data from more than 125 countries show that there has been widespread adoption of integrated approaches with significant impact on development and water management practices at the country level: 64% of countries have developed integrated water resources management (IWRM) plans, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and 34% report an advanced stage of implementation. However, progress appears to have slowed in low and medium Human Development Index (HDI) countries since the 2008 survey.

Need for sharing of water – Indian scenario.

Availability of water in India is highly uneven in both space and time. Precipitation (Rainfall) is confined to only about three or four months in a year. It varies from an average 100 mm in the western parts of Rajasthan to over 10000 mm at Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. Rivers and underground aquifers often cut across state boundaries Water, as a resource is one and indivisible: rainfall, river waters, surface ponds and lakes and ground water are all part of one system.

In India the production of food grains has increased from around 50 million tonnes in the fifties to about 208 million tonnes in the Year 1999-2000. This will have to be raised to around 350 million tonnes by the year 2025 AD to keep pace with the population growth and for ensuring a hunger free India. The drinking water needs of people and livestock have also to be met. Domestic and industrial water needs have largely been concentrated in or near major cities. However, the demand in rural areas is expected to increase sharply as the development programmes improve economic conditions of the rural masses. Demand for water for hydro and thermal power generation and for other industrial uses is also increasing substantially. As a result, water, which is already a scarce resource, will become even scarcer in future.

India, like several other countries, has to share its waters with its neighboring countries and even within the country several states have to share their water from the rivers and often this leads to unwarranted conflict necessitating the requirement for effective water cooperation within the country and also amongst different states and with other countries that India shares its river water with. India shares six rivers with its neighbour Pakistan and for this an effective Indo – Pak Indus treaty signed in the year 1960 is in place and has served both the countries in avoiding water conflicts. India and Nepal have signed the Sharda treaty (1927), the Kosi treaty (1954, amended in 1966), the Gandak treaty (1959, amended in 1964), the Tanakpur (1991) and the Mahakali treaty of 1996 which facilitate the two countries in water cooperation. India has signed the Farakka Water Treaty for sharing of Ganga water with Bangladesh, yet lot needs to be done when it comes to sharing the Teesta river water, the treaty for which was very close to being signed but had to be abandoned for political reasons. India and China have continued to play a blame game when it comes to sharing of the Brahmaputra river waters for which no formal treaty exists.

The situation within the country is no different. The most glaring amongst them are the Krishna – Godavari water dispute between the warring states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and     Tamil Nadu and the Ravi – Beas dispute between Punjab and Haryana.

There is an ever increasing potential of water conflicts in India at various levels. This is officially recognized in the 12th five Year Plan of Government of India: “… conflicts across competing uses and users of water are growing by the day.”   India’s National Water Policy acknowledges this in the very first paragraph: “With a growing population and rising needs of a fast developing nation as well as the given indications of the impact of climate change, availability of utilizable water will be under further strain in future with the possibility of deepening water conflicts among different user groups.” The role of demand side management becomes key when one of the key factors in increasing conflicts is increasing demands. However, in a growth-oriented and market-dominated situation, demand is sacrosanct, and demand management is an anathema. There is little serious attention today on demand management in India.

At non-government level, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India has been in existence since 2004, first surveying, recording and understanding water conflicts and then moving towards conflict resolution. A recently released report on water situation in India by UNICEF, FAO and Saci-Waters says: “Water conflicts are broadly classified into the following seven categories. These are conflicts over equitable access, competing uses, water quality and pollution, dams and displacements, privatization of water, industrialization and inter-state conflicts.” The conflicts over competing uses would include sectors like urban, rural, industrial, commercial, agriculture, ecosystem and also inter-generation users. Other kinds of conflicts include: Intra basin and inter basin conflicts, international conflicts and conflicts between the state and people.

Water cooperation in practice (Sharing water, a potential source of conflict)

Water competition has led to increased water conflicts in China, particularly over the past two decades. Conflicts within countries have dominated since 1990, with more than 120 000 water-related disputes in China alone during this period. Direct conflict most commonly arises at the local level and is often based on the construction of a dam, ambiguous water withdrawal rights or deteriorating water quality. Some researchers believe that between 70% and 80% of Yemen’s rural conflicts are about water. The situation is affected by a growing population, poor water management, illegal well drilling and influx of Somali refugees. Exacerbating the conflict is the fact that Yemen is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries.

Intangible cultural Heritage of humanity

The Valencia Water court Every Thursday at midday in the cathedral square in Valencia (Spain), at the first strike of twelve on the bell, an “alguacil” or constable comes out of an adjoining building. He is followed by eight men dressed in the long black shirts traditionally worn by farmers in the region. They are members of the ancient institution of the Tribuna del Agua. In public hearings, the court settles disputes on the distribution of water among the eight channels that irrigate the 17,000 hectares of land from the huertan where citrus fruits, rice, grapes and peaches are grown for the Spanish and international markets. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Why care about water cooperation 

Water is a vital element for human existence and all ecosystems on Earth, naturally shared through the hydrological cycle. It is the most precious resource on our planet. The fulfillment of basic human needs, our environment, socio-economic development and poverty reduction are all heavily dependent on water. Although there is enough freshwater on the globe for everyone, resources are unevenly distributed in time and space. In many regions, clean freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, urbanization, changes in lifestyle, economic development, pollution and climate change. The growing pressure on water resources creates potential competition between different uses and users and makes it more difficult to manage water in a sustainable and equitable manner. Good management of water is especially challenging due to some of its unique characteristics: the hydrological cycle is highly complex and perturbations have multiple effects on quantity, quality and availability elsewhere; water cuts across all social, environmental and economic activities and touches upon multiple sectors; and water does not respect political and cultural boundaries, be they local, regional or national.

Water is a shared resource and its management needs to take into account a wide variety of conflicting interests. Water cooperation is crucial to peace and sustainable development Cooperation is essential to strike a balance between the different needs and priorities for sound water management. The potential for water cooperation is great. Evidence indicates that good examples of water cooperation greatly outshine water-related conflicts. All water systems are extremely complex, be they management systems at the local or national level, internationally shared river basins or parts of the natural hydrological cycle. Managing these systems requires multiple actors, from users to practitioners and managers, experts from various disciplines and policy- and decision-makers.

Water cooperation between different social groups, economic sectors, regional governments, countries, and present and future generations, is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable and equitable use of water but also to create and maintain peaceful relations between people. Water cooperation requires the integration of all relevant interests and perspectives, fostering innovation, building trust, developing capacities and making decisions that are acceptable and understood by all. In this context, water cooperation needs to embrace multiple perspectives, be informed by a variety of disciplines and extend to all levels, from the local to the national to the international level, and across all socioeconomic sectors.

At the government level, different ministries can cooperate and mainstream awareness on water management into other sectors; at the community level users can cooperate through water users’ associations; at the transboundary level joint management institutions can help to distribute and protect shared resources; and at the international level different UN agencies can work together to promote the sustainable management of water.  Cooperation mechanisms vary in terms of decision-making structures, levels of participation and rules and regulations. They can take the form of informal agreements or formal institutions, and they range from a simple exchange of information to joint management mechanisms and activities such as capacity development.

Water cooperation as a peacemaking strategy

Water can also be a catalyst for cooperation and for building peaceful relations beyond the resource itself. Often negotiations over a practical issue such as water provide a basis for dialogue even when political relations are strained. For example, Jordan and Israel held secret talks over the management of the Jordan River from the 1950s even though they were at war until 1994. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam continued to exchange information on the Mekong River throughout the Vietnam War. Water cooperation can thus also serve as an avenue for peacemaking, building trust and mutual understanding.

Key message's

Access to water can be a source of conflict, but it is also a catalyst for cooperation and peace building. Cooperation on such a practical and vital issue as water management and drinking water supply and sanitation services can help overcome cultural, political and social tensions, and can also build trust and social peace between different groups; genders, communities, regions or states.

·     Universal access to efficient drinking water supply and sanitation services is the foundation for the fulfillment of basic human needs and contributes to the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals. Inclusive, participatory and gender sensitive governance of water and cooperation between different stakeholders can help to overcome inequity and prevent conflicts in access to water and thus contribute to poverty eradication, socioeconomic development and improve the living conditions and educational chances, especially of women and children.

·       All economic activities depend on water. Cooperation can lead to a more efficient and sustainable use of water resources, e.g. through joint management plans creating mutual benefits and better living conditions, and gender sensitive water governance.

·       Water cooperation makes possible and promotes the exchange of scientific knowledge, including gender disaggregated data and information, management strategies and best practices, which is fundamental for the protection of the environment and to achieve sustainable development.

Conclusion

The profile of India’s population for the year 2030 will be roughly 1.5 billion people. India will still be a rather youthful country, with 8%–9% of its population 65 years of age or older and a median age of 31–32 years (compared to roughly 13% and 37 years, respectively, for the United States today). About 68% of India 2030’s population will comprise men and women of working age (conventionally defined as the 15–64 group), compared with 65% today. This means that the working-age manpower is set to grow more rapidly than overall population in the decades immediately ahead, by about 1.3% per annum on average. This aspect while helping in improving the economic condition of the country will lead to additional pressure on the requirement of water. Furthermore, by 2030, UNPD anticipates India’s life expectancy to reach 70 years, and by its projections, the India of 2030 will be about 40% urban, up from an estimated 30% today which will further accentuate the problem for water and the need for water cooperation.

To highlight this aspect the process must begin by targeting the children who will primarily be responsible for implementing policies and strategies of the country in the future. It is in this context that the National Science Seminar, primarily aimed at students in which more than 30,000 students have directly taken part in the seminar and thousands of others have witnessed the seminar at different levels all across the country, is a step in the right direction. The primary objective of the International Year of Water Cooperation as declared by the UN will greatly be fulfilled by this event.

This article has been compiled by the organizers - Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai -  by sourcing information and content from various UN publications and other reference material.

Happy International Year of Water Cooperation.

Here is a link to a download for the NSS 2013 Souvenir, which contains the above article in the Genesis section and also has many other articles and messages, which may be of great interest to people.

file:///C:/Users/Project%20Advisor/Pictures/Saved%20Pictures/National-Science-Seminar-Souvenir-2013.pdf

 

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