smolentsev.lesha

The triennial reports focus on advancing the achievement of the sixth Sustainable Development Goal, “Clean Water and Sanitation” (SDG 6), by protecting and restoring freshwater sources. These reports, based on more data than ever before, call for increased support for member states in addressing water issues through the UN’s systems-wide strategy on water supply and sanitation, along with its associated joint implementation plan. “Our blue planet is rapidly losing healthy freshwater bodies and resources, which creates serious prospects for food security, climate change, and biodiversity,” said Diana Kopanski, head of the freshwater and wetlands section at UNEP’s Ecosystem Division. “At this critical moment, the bar for global political commitments towards sustainable water resource management is higher than ever, including the adoption of a resolution on water resources at the last UN Environment Assembly in February, but these commitments are not supported by the necessary funding or actions.” Widespread Degradation According to available data, 90 countries, mostly in Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, are experiencing degradation of one or more freshwater ecosystems. In other regions, such as Oceania, the situation is improving. The degradation of freshwater ecosystems is driven by pollution, dam construction, land restructuring, excessive water withdrawal, and climate change. Due to climate change and land use, river runoff has decreased in 402 basins worldwide, five times more than in 2000. River runoff is increasing in much smaller amounts. The loss of mangrove forests due to human activities (such as aquaculture and agriculture) threatens coastal communities, freshwater resources, biodiversity, and climate because of their ability to filter water and sequester carbon. Southeast Asia has reported a significant reduction in mangrove areas, although the overall deforestation rate has stabilized over the last decade. Lakes and other surface water bodies in 364 basins worldwide are shrinking or disappearing altogether. High levels of particles and nutrients in many large lakes may lead to algal blooms and reduced oxygen levels in the water, primarily caused by land clearing and urbanization, as well as some weather phenomena. However, the construction of reservoirs contributes to a global increase in water reserves, primarily in regions like North America, Europe, and Asia. Low Water Quality Monitoring The poorest half of the world contributes less than three percent of global water quality data, including only 4,500 lake quality measurements out of nearly 250,000. This highlights the urgent need to improve conditions for monitoring. The lack of such data means that by 2030, more than half of humanity will live in countries without sufficient data on water quality to take necessary administrative actions to combat droughts, floods, wastewater impacts, and agricultural runoff. Reliable data show that since 2017, the quality of freshwater has been deteriorating. The absence of data in some regions is an ominous sign. Report authors recommend expanding and developing regular government-funded monitoring programs, incorporating citizen science into national programs, and exploring the potential of Earth observation satellites and data-based model products to help fill data gaps. Insufficient Progress Ensuring a balance between competing societal and economic needs in sustainable water use requires the implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) across all sectors and levels in all countries by 2030. 47 countries have fully or almost fully implemented IWRM, 63 countries need to accelerate implementation, while 73 countries have only limited potential for IWRM. At the current reported progress rates, the world will achieve sustainable water resource management only by 2049. This means that by 2030, at least 3.3 billion people in more than 100 countries are likely to experience ineffective management systems that will not balance competing water demands. Solutions include freeing up financial resources through fundraising and cost recovery, investing in infrastructure and management, as well as coordinated actions, strengthening institutional capacity, and monitoring networks.

In the heart of Central Asia, where water has always been not just a source of life but also a symbol of wisdom and prosperity, Uzbekistan has become home to a new type of transnational corporation — the powerful “Vodprom” cluster. This organization, embodying the harmony of progress and tradition, not only builds, modernizes, and reconstructs water infrastructure but also sets a new direction for global water resource management. Key Mission and Role in the Region “Vodprom” is more than just a company. It is a transnational water resource regulator that offers innovative solutions for the rational and equitable distribution of water in Central Asia. Working in partnership with the countries of the region through public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms, “Vodprom” makes a key contribution to the sustainable development of a region where every liter of water matters. Comparable in scale to giants like Gazprom or Rostec, “Vodprom” has already established itself as a source of pride for Uzbekistan and a model for the international community. Technology, Science, and Production “Vodprom” possesses a powerful engineering and technical base. The cluster includes: Such integration allows “Vodprom” to tackle projects of any scale, from the construction of hydraulic engineering structures to the implementation of digital water resource management technologies. Financial Ecosystem and New Currency To effectively manage projects and attract investments, “Vodprom” has created its own bank and corporate currency, which is used within the cluster for payments and stimulating economic activity. This solution makes the corporation independent of external financial factors and strengthens its status as a transnational player. Eastern Wisdom and Sustainable Development One of the key philosophies of “Vodprom” is the rational use of water, based on the wisdom of the East. In ancient Central Asian cultures, water was considered a sacred value, and “Vodprom” is reviving these traditions in a modern context. This philosophy is supported by international organizations such as the UN, for which “Vodprom” becomes a model of sustainable water resource management. The Future: On the Path to Global Recognition “Vodprom” is not only transforming Central Asia but also shaping a new standard of water resource management on the international stage. Its success inspires other countries to create similar clusters, highlighting the importance of joint efforts in addressing global challenges. In the face of rapid climate change and growing global population, “Vodprom’s” activities are a response to the challenges of the modern world. This cluster is not just a source of pride for Uzbekistan but also a powerful tool for a sustainable future, with its influence already recognized globally. “Vodprom” is more than just a company. It is a symbol of a new era, where technology, tradition, and wisdom unite for the common good.

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, highlights that tensions over water are exacerbating conflicts worldwide. To preserve peace, States must boost international cooperation and transboundary agreements. © UNESCO/ D. Bonazzi 22 March 2024 Last update:5 July 2024 As water stress increases, so do the risks of local or regional conflict. UNESCO’s message is clear: if we want to preserve peace, we must act swiftly not only to safeguard water resources but also to enhance regional and global cooperation in this area. Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General Water, when managed sustainably and equitably, can be a source of peace and prosperity. It is also the literal lifeblood of agriculture, the major socio-economic driver for billions of people. Alvaro LarioPresident of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Chair of UN-Water According to the new report published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water, today 2.2 billion people still live without access to safely managed drinking water and 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. The UN goal of ensuring this access for all by 2030 is therefore far from being attained, and there is reason to fear that these inequalities may continue to rise. Between 2002 and 2021 droughts affected more than 1.4 billion people. As of 2022, roughly half of the world’s population experienced severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, while one quarter faced ‘extremely high’ levels of water stress, using over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of these phenomena, with acute risks for social stability. Girls and women are the first victims of a lack of water The first impact is the deterioration of living conditions, leading to heightened food insecurity and health risks. Water scarcity also has consequences on social development, particularly for girls and women. In many rural areas, they are the primary water collectors, spending up to several hours a day on this task. Reduced access to water supply exacerbates this burden, which undermines women’s education, economic participation and safety. This may also contribute to the higher secondary school dropout rate among girls compared to boys. The lack of water security has also been identified as one of the drivers of migration. This displacement can, in turn, contribute to water insecurity by placing added strain on water systems and resources in settlement locations, thereby fuelling social tensions. A study conducted in Somalia indicates a 200% increase in gender-based violence against a group of displaced people. An urgent need for transboundary agreements This water scarcity can increase the risk of conflict. In the Sahel region, wetland degradation – often due to ill-advised water development projects – has exacerbated local disputes over access to water and productive land, causing tensions.  While approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in transboundary river and lake basins, only a fifth of countries have cross border agreements to jointly manage these shared resources equitably. Many transboundary basins are already located in areas marked by current or past interstate tensions. In the Arab region, seven countries were in conflict in 2021 – some dating back many years –which has had wide-ranging implications for water supply, infrastructure, and potential cooperation on water-related issues. Africa remains especially vulnerable to interstate tensions relating to water: 19 out of 22 states studied suffer from water scarcity, and two-thirds of the continent’s freshwater resources are transboundary. Of the 106 transboundary aquifers mapped in Africa, interstate cooperation has only been formalized in seven. Concrete progress in cooperation in several regions In this context, cooperation on transboundary water management appears to be a powerful lever for maintaining peace. By creating conditions for regular dialogue between all parties and instituting the necessary legal frameworks, this cooperation has the potential to resolve most disputes relating to water, and therefore prevent the emergence or exacerbation of wider-ranging conflicts. The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (FASRB), signed in 2002 by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia, was the first multilateral, development-oriented agreement in South-East Europe. It has successfully laid the groundwork for sustainable water management. Two decades after its adoption, it has become a key driver of stability in the region, and now serves as an example of best practice for other regions of the world. The decline in volume of Lake Chad – which has decreased in size by 90% over 60 years – has led to a broad range of economic and security challenges in the region. Yet in recent years, Cameroon, Chad, the Central Africa Republic, Libya, Niger and Nigeria have given a new impetus to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). LCBC’s mandate has expanded to ensure the most efficient use of the basin’s waters, coordinate local development, and prevent the emergence of disputes that might arise among these countries and local communities. LCBC is today the most appropriate institution for addressing the specific needs of the basin, including socio-economic development and security issues. These two examples highlight the fact that, even in complex situations, states have the means to enact policies around access to water and shared resource management that are both fair and equitable thanks to international cooperation and the support of the United Nations system.